The Time Line of Christian History

Time Line of Christian History
Compiled by:
M. M. Ninan
1
1
2
1The Time Line

of
Christian History
5509 The starting point for the apo ktiseos kosmou (AKK) or anno
mundi (AM) chronological system commonly employed by East Roman
(Byzantine) scholars from about the fifth century.
In this system, then, 1 A.D. corresponds to the year of the world

5509/5510. 2000 A.D. is thus 7508/7509.
East Roman year began with 1 September.
Dionysus Exiguus
In the sixth century (A.D.), this monk and scholar was asked by the Pope to
work out when Jesus Christ was born, so that a calendar or dating system
could be introduced which placed events according to the number of years
they occurred either before or after the birth of Christ. This system came to be
used in Christendom, instead of using the founding of Rome (753 B.C.) as the
reference point, or "year zero."
Dionysus made 2 mistakes:

1. He got the date of Christ’s birth wrong
2. He didn’t include a year for the first year of Christ’s life- there should really
have been a "year zero", between 1 B.C. and 1 A.D.
Much of his life was spent in Rome, where he governed a monastery as abbot.
His industry was translating standard works from Greek into Latin. He
translated the "Life of St. Pachomius", the "Instruction of St. Proclus of
Constantinople" for the Armenians,and the "De opificio hominis" of St. Gregory
of Nyssa. He died around 544 AD
The Alexandrian era attributed to the fifth century monk Panodorus,

began on August 29, 5493 B.C.
5199 In the Anno Mundi chronological system attributed to Eusebius

and common in the West before the adoption of the Anno Domini
system, this year was the starting point.
1
4004 BC The year of the creation according to Bishop Ussher (1581-

1656), an Anglo-Irish (Protestant) priest.
Even though when the calendar was made so that the birth of Jesus
was to be the starting point of the year, the real dates are not exactly at
that point. So the 0 is not exactly the birth year of Jesus. The
Calendar was actually made after over 300 years. Year calculations
were complex because the year was not exactly defined. Some made
it 12 x 30 others 365 and adjustments were made to compensate for
solar year.
According to my own calculation based on Scripture alone the

Birth of Christ was on 25th December 6 BC
BC
First year in Christian calendar, (A.D. = Anno Domini). In an attempt

secularize this Calendar, it is used as Common Era or C.E. by some.
The Period Before Christ is written as B.C which is secularized as
B.C.E.
BC 6: Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus of Rome; Samaria, Judea

and Idumea annexed as province Iudaea under direct Roman
administration, capital. Caesarea
Caesar Augustus
2
"When I had extinguished the flames of civil war, after receiving by

universal consent the absolute control of affairs, I transferred the
republic from my own control to the will of the senate and the Roman
people. For this service on my part I was given the title Augustus by
decree of the senate"
The House of Herod ruled Palestinian area in three parts at that time.
The Herod family included Archelaus, Antipas and Phillip.
Coin of Herod Archelaus
Coin of Herod Antipas
Coin of Philip son of Herod

the Great and Cleopatra.
7 BC 21 Tishri 3755 = 14 Oct 7 BC Zachariah’s Vision – Day of

Atonement
3 Nissan 3755 = 20 Mar 6 BC Annunciation to Mary Six months
later
15 Av 3755 = 28 July 6 Birth of John the Baptist
6 BC: Publius Sulpicius Quirinius (c.45 BCE - 21 CE): Roman

senator, famous as governor of Syria. 1st Roman tax census of Iudaea.
Birth of Jesus must have been during this period.
3
Birth of Jesus 25 December, 6 BC

16 Tevet 3756 25 Dec 6 BC
AD
6-9 AD: In 6 AD., Herod Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, was
deposed and banished to Gaul by Augustus. Archelaus' part of his
father's kingdom (including Judea, Samaria, Idumea and Archelais)
was (except for Archelais) organized as a Roman Procuratorial
Province. Coponius: Roman Prefect of Iudaea
6-15: Ananus ben Seth: High Priest of Jerusalem Temple, appointed

by Quirinius
4
6: Zealot's tax revolt: Judah of Gamala & Saddok the Pharisee

[JA18.4,JW2.118]
Judah of Gamala was a Nazir Israelite King-Priest (a direct descendant of the

Royal Davidian king line), and also the head of the Nazir Israelite Canaanite
movement (of which the Greeks called the Zealots), who made their first strike
during the census. In the beginning the Nazir Israelite Canaanites gained
ground, during what is known as the "Revolution of Census", but at the end, the
whole operation ended with a blood bath -ACTS 5: 37.
Zealot Symbo
7-26: Brief period of peace, free of revolt and bloodshed in Iudaea &
Galilee
30 BC - Hillel the Elder from Babylonia.- contemperory of Jesus.
"greatest Torah sage of Second Temple period", founder of Bet Hillel Torah
school. Hillel was recognized as the highest authority among the Pharisees
(predecessors to rabbinic Judaism).
42BC-37AD: Tiberius: Roman emperor.
Tiberius
59BC-17AD: Livy, (Titus Livius)

Roman historian: " History of Rome” Of the original 142 books
of the work (published in sections) 35 are extant (Books I–X, XXI–XLV).
There are fragments of some others
5
Titus Livius
18-36: Joseph Caiaphas: High Priest of Jerusalem Temple,

appointed by V.Gratus
A Sadducee, son-in-law of Annas. According to the Gospels, he presided at the

council that condemned Jesus to death. Later, he joined in the examination of
Peter and John. Mat. 26.57–68; John 11.47–54; 18.24; Acts 4.6.
Ossuary of Caiaphas found in 1990
19: Tiberius expels Septuagint missionaries from Rome,

but they soon returned.
202BC-220AD: Han dynasty in China
63 BC-24AD: Strabo, Greek geographer, historian, and philosopher
6
Strabo’s World
7
Reconstruction of what Jesus may have looked like

according to the Discovery Channel
An ancient Roman depiction of Jesus

8
http://www.historywiz.com/christianity.htm
26-36: Pontius Pilate: Roman Prefect of Iudaea

(Samaria, Judea, and Idumea).
Crucifixion of Jesus must have been during this period.
Pontius Pilate , Roman prefect of Judaea (A.D. 26–36 ). He was supposedly

a ruthless governor, and he was removed at the complaint of Samaritans,
among whom he engineered a massacre. His attempt to evade responsibility
in the trial of Jesus was caused by his fear of the high priests' power and his
difficult responsibility for the peace of Palestine. According to tradition he
committed suicide at Rome. He is attested in the works of Josephus and
Eusebius. The Acts of Pilate, one of the Pseudepigrapha (part of the Gospel
of Nicodemus) tell of him as a Christian. In the Coptic and Ethiopic churches,
Pilate has been canonized. Legend connects him with Mt. Pilatus.
9
Pontius Pilate, (26-37 AD)

Limestone
82.0 cm H, 65.0 cm W
Building Dedication
4 Lines of Writing (Latin)
Date of Discovery: 1961
Israel Museum (Jerusalem)
AE 1963 no. 104
Inscription by Pontius Pilate
27-29 : John the Baptist begins ministry [Luke 3:1-2: 15th year of
Tiberius]
27-30 : Jesus baptized in Jordan by John the Baptist, [Mk1:4-11]
10BC- : Marcus Manilius, Roman poet,

wrote: Astronomica in 30 AD
50 BC-30AD: Shammai the Elder, founder of Bet Shammai Torah

school.
"Shammai HaZaken, , c.50 B.C. c.A.D. 30, Jewish sage known for his
opposition to the liberal teachings of Hillel. He and his school interpreted the
Law extremely rigorously, emphasizing deed rather than intent.
10
AD 30 –100 THE PERIOD OF SOWING –APOSTOLIC AGE
30-100 Clement of Rome. Clement must have been alive during the
ministry of Jesus.
28-30 : John the Baptist arrested/killed by Herod Antipas

[Lk3:19-20,Josephus]
27-30 : Jesus' ministry, foundation years of Christianity,
30 : Jesus crucified, Friday, Nisan 14th, March 30th,

Last Supper would have been Thursday evening.
( Possible Friday 14 Nisan crucifixion dates
are 7 Apr 30, 3 Apr 33 or 30 Mar 36. )
11
New Covenant Era Starts

30 Resurrection of Jesus
36 Agrippa I (36 - 37) in Rome.

Jonathan appointed Jerusalem High Priest (36 - 37) by Syrian
Legate Vitellius.
30 -65 : period of oral tradition in Christianity Between Jesus and the

Gospel of Mark
1) (Simon) Peter as leader

2) James ,
3) John ,
4) Andrew,
5) Philip,
6) Bartholomew
7) Matthew,
8) Thomas,
9)James son of Alpheus,
10) Thaddeus,
11) Simon the Revolutionary (or
Zealot),
1Judas the betrayer commits "suicide" [Ac1:18-19],

Matthias voted in as his replacement [Ac1:23-26],
12
Peter’s Pentecost Sermon - 3000 new converts in one day

[Ac2:41],
Peter and John jailed for one night for causing riots,
Number of converts increases to 5000 [Ac3],
Ananias and Sapphira die under mysterious circumstances after

cheating the Assembly[Ac5],
Aramaic [Ac1:19] and Greek [Ac6:1] in use early on,
7 Greeks added to 12 Apostles:

Stephen,
Philip,
Prochorus,
Nicanor,
Timon,
Parmenas,
Nicolaus [Ac6],
34 Martyrdom of Stephen
13
CHURCH AGE STARTS

37-62 Paul of Tarsus (37, Saul converts to Paul "The
Apostle to the Gentiles" “The Architect and Builder of the Church”
Paul, the world's first missionary, missionary to the Gentiles
"...a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well-built, with eyebrows

meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace. For sometimes he seemed like a
man, and sometimes he had the countenance of an angel." Acts of Paul and
Thecla", Ante-Nicene Fathers
The Apostle Paul (c. 3 - c. 66), whose birth name was Saul, was a Christian
missionary, martyr, saint, and author. The son of a Pharisee and Roman
citizen, he was born in Tarsus of Cilicia. There is a general consensus that
Paul was also a Roman citizen. He is often referred to by other names,
including Apostle of the Gentiles, Paul the Apostle, Saul of Tarsus, Saint
Paul, and Saul
1Activity of Christianity shifts from the Hellenic-Jewish-Christians

of Judea Samaria, and Galilee (Nazarenes "of Nazareth" and
Ebionites "poor ones") to the Gentile-Christians led by Paul and
centered in the church of Corinth ...
14
37-41: Gaius Caligula: b.12, Emperor of Rome, declared himself

god.
37-40: Herod Agrippa I: king of tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias

37: Paul of Tarsus' conversion, [Acts9], (a Roman citizen & tentmaker)
38: anti-Jewish riots in Alexandria [Philo: Flaccus 41-54, E-

to-G 132-137]
39-40: anti-Jewish riots in Antioch [Malalas Chronographia

10.315]
39: Herod Antipas exiled to Gaul on charges of secret alliance with

Parthians
40: Paul goes to Jerusalem to get aquainted (consult ) with Peter

[Gal1:18-20]
40: Caligula adds tetrarchy of Herod Antipas (Galilee) to Herod Agrippa

I
40 : 4 Maccabees, written in Greek in Alexandria (Septuagint)
41 Jerusalem expanded. New city walls were built, bringing the site of
Jesus’ crucifixion within the city.
15
41-44: Claudius adds Judea and Samaria to kingdom of Herod Agrippa

I
42: James brother of John (James the Greater) executed by

Herod Agrippa I [Acts12:1-3]
43 Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch (Acts 11.25-26).
44 Death of Herod Agrippa I, King of Judea and Samaria (Acts 12.23).
44: Fadus beheads Theudas for magically parting the Jordan

R.[JA20.97,Ac5:36]
45 The church in Antioch sent famine relief to the Christians of Judea

by the hands of Saul and Barnabas (Acts 11.29).
30 BC- 45AD: Philo Judaeus of Alexandria, b.30bce,

Jewish philosopher and hellenizer, tried to unify Greek and Hebrew
philosophy
(from André Thevet, Les Vrais Pourtraits et Vies

Hommes Illustres, 1584)
16
Philo was a theologian who sought to harmonize Jewish theology with Greek
(largely Platonic) philosophy. Many ideas found in later Christian theology
are present in Philo, though sometimes in a form unacceptable to the
Church. Philo taught that Greek philosophy had been plagiarized from
Moses. He believed that the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the
Septuagint, dating from the third century BC) was divinely inspired. Philo
referred to the Logos (the residence of the Platonic Ideas) as the first-
begotten Son of God - though, in his view, the Logos was definitely below
God, distinct from the Godhead. He interpreted the theophanies of the Old
Testament as appearances of the Logos (as for the Fathers they were
Christophanies). He stressed the allegorical interpretation of scripture,
though this must be balanced. With the later Eastern mystical theologians,
Philo discussed the incomprehensibility of God in essence, and how
knowledge of God can be attained in an ecstatic state.
45 : Fadus crucifies Jacob and Simon sons of Judah of Gamala (6)

[JA20.5.2]
46-48: Tiberius Julius Alexander: Roman Procurator of Iudaea, an

apostate Jew
47-59: Ananias ben Nedebaeus: H. P. of Jerus. Temple, app. by Herod

of Chalcis
47-49 First missionary journey of Saul and Barnabas

(Acts 13-14). Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus [Acts13:4-12]
48-93: Agrippa II: King of Judea, ruled from Chalcis 48-52 and from
Iturea 52-93
17
48-49: The First Council of Apostles and Elders,

[Ac15,Gal2.1f ] The participants adopted the missionary principle of St.
Paul, which stressed the universal scope of salvation.
Incident at Antioch [Gal 2.11-18] where Paul publicly condemned Peter.
48-62: Pauline Epistles: Gal,1Th , Rom, 1Cor, 2Cor, Phi
50 Paul’s second missionary journey began, with Silas

(Acts 15.40).
Paul and Silas visited Philippi (Acts 16.11-40), meeting Lydia, the seller of
purple, and being rescued from prison, with the consequent conversion of the
Philippian jailor (Acts 16.33); Thessalonica, where there was a riot on their
behalf (Acts 17.5); Boroea, where the Jews willingly examined the Old
Testament prophecies of the Messiah (Acts 17.11); Athens, where Paul
preached in the Areopagus (Acts 17.22-31); Corinth, where he met Aquila and
Priscilla, refugees because of Claudius’ expulsion of the Jews from Rome (Acts
18.2); and Ephesus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem before returning to Antioch
(Acts 18.22). Paul in Corinth, the center of his mission to the Gentiles [Acts18]
49-54: Claudius expels Septuagint missionaries from Rome: {Since the

Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus
{{Christ }}, he expelled them from Rome.} [Suetonius, de Vita
Caesarum, Claudius XXV.4, Loeb]
50: Jewish riot in Jerusalem, 20-30,000 killed

50 : Peshitta translation begun, Hebrew OT. Syriac Aramaic
50 : Ascension of Isaiah, original written in Hebrew (Ethiopic Bible)
18
50 : Barthelemy Greek Minor Prophets, R943, pb.1953, unknown

translation type
52 -72 Ministry of Thomas in India

Thomas Churches all over India - Church of Malankara (Kerala)
Seven Kerala Churches
19
Ministry of Thomas
54-68: Nero: b. 37, Emperor of Rome
55 : Felix kills Egyptian prophet planning to take Jerusalem [Ac21,J

osephus]
50 The early Gnostics, Simon Magnus of Samaria, Simonianism;

Nicolaus of Antioch, Nicolaitans; Menander disciple of Simon
Magus, Basilides of Alexandria, Satorninus of Antioch and
disciples of Menander
51 Paul wrote the epistles to the Thessalonians, from Corinth.
53 Paul’s epistle to the Galatians written from Antioch ( ). Beginning of

the third missionary journey. Paul in Ephesus, 53-55/56. (Acts 19)
20
54 – 58 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
55 Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, from Ephesus.
55/56 Paul departed Ephesus (Acts 20.1), visiting Macedonia and

Corinth. 2Corinthians written from Macedonia.
57 Paul wrote Romans from Corinth. Departed Greece (Acts 20.3),

and after passing through Troas (Acts 20.7-12), and preaching to the
presbyters of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20.18-35), came to
Jerusalem (Acts 21.17), ending the third missionary journey.
57-59 Paul imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 23.33-26.32), under Felix and

Festus.
59 Paul’s Fourth Journey in chains
21
60 Paul arrived at Rome (Acts 28.16).
61/62 Paul wrote the epistles entitled Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians

and Philippians
58: Ming-Ti, emperor of China, introduces Buddhism to China
58 : Felix crushes Jewish revolt in Caesarea

60 -62: Porcius Festus: Roman Procurator of Iudaea
60: Paul imprisoned in Rome [Acts28:16]
62: Paul martyred for treason in Rome
62 Tradition has it that Bartholomew was martyred in Kalyan, a city

state on the west coast of India, near modern-day Bombay.
Bartholomew was skinned alive and crucified.
62 James the Just, "the Lord's Brother," martyred.

Ananus, called a "sanhedrin" and brought into it the brother of Jesus-who-is-
called-Messiah, James by name, and some others. He made the accusation
that they had transgressed the law, and he handed them over to be stoned.
[JA20.9.1]
According to tradition, James the Just, bishop of Jerusalem, was killed in the
temple by an angry mob, apparently struck in the head with a sledgehammer
22
This inscription on the bone box reads: "Yaakov bar Yoseph akhui
d'Yeshua." James was martyred in AD 62. The story of his martyrdom
can be found in Eusebius of Caesarea's work, Church History (AD
325), Book II, Chapter 23: The Martyrdom of James, who was called
the Brother of the Lord
62: Jesus the Rustic, proclaims "... a voice against Jerusalem ..."
[Josephus]
64: In Rome, persecution of early Christians begins under Emperor

Nero Great Fire of Rome: Nero accused and persecuted the
Christians: [Tacitus Annals 15.44;Marginal Jew;Meier;p.89-90]
63-66 Paul traveled to Macedonia, Asia Minor, Crete, and possibly

Spain. 1 Timothy and Titus written.
64 1st Persecution of Christians, under Nero.

64 Simon Magus (Acts 8.9-24) and St. Peter had confrontations in
Rome.
Simon, wishing to gain an advantage over Peter and to impress Claudius

with his ability to fly, fell to his death from the top of the Roman Forum.
64 The church in Alexandria founded by St. Mark, the

disciple of Peter.
64 Herod’s temple in Jerusalem completed.- Third

Temple.
23
In 63 BC, Romans incorporated Judah (what is now Palestine) into their empire
as Judea and placed the Jewish lands under kings. Appointed to these
kingships was the Herod dynasty, a family of Jews who gained favor with the
Romans. The Herodian family ruled over the Palestinian area from 40 BC until
around AD 100. The most significant member of this family was Herod the
Great, who ruled from 37 to 4 BC. Herod rebuilt many fortresses in the land and
temples in Gentile territories. He rebuilt Stato's Tower, renamed Caesarea, and
in 24 BC he built for himself a royal palace in Jerusalem. But his most notable
achievement was the building a temple in Jerusalem, which was begun in
20/19 BC and finished in 63 AD, long after his death in 4 BC. Herod the Great’s
expansion project began around 19 BC. The renovation by Herod began with
the building of giant underground vaults upon which the temple would be built
so it could be larger than the small flat area on top of Mount Moriah.This was
known as the Third Temple. This was the temple standing at the time of Jesus,
This temple was destroyed in AD 70.
65-150: Didache: Instructions of the Apostles, pub. 1883

(Apostolic Fathers)
Didache ( [Gr.,=teaching], early Christian work written in Greek, called also

The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles. Dates for its composition suggested by
scholars have ranged from A.D. 50 to A.D. 150. Discovered in 1875 by
Bryennios, Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Nicomedia, it is an invaluable
primary source for the primitive church. The first part is a collection of moral
precepts, perhaps based on rabbinical teachings (there are many quotations
from the Old Testament); the second portion gives directions for baptism and
the Eucharist; the third contains directions for bishops and deacons. The
Didache may be of composite authorship. Didache indicates worship was on
Sunday: “Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break bread and offer the
eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may
be a pure one.”
65-150: Dialogue of the Savior, Gospel of Peter (Complete Gospels)
65-150: Gospel redaction and compilation stage of Christianity,

Post-Paul, center of Christianity shifts to Antioch and Rome - "New
Babylon" of 1Pet5:13
24
65 : Q (German:Quelle:Source), hypothetical Greek text used in Matt &

Luke
65-150: Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1224 fragments: pub. 1914
65-350: "Jewish-Christian Gospels":

7 fragments of Gospel of the Ebionites and
7 fragments of Gospel of the Hebrews in Greek;
36 fragments of Gospel of the Nazarenes in Aramaic.
.
64-66: Gessius Florus: Roman Procurator of Iudaea a Greek from Asia
Minor, raids Temple setting off Jewish rebellion of 66-70
67: General Vespasian of Rome conquers Galilee
66-70: Roman-Jewish War:
66 Jewish rebellion began and war between the Romans and Jews
ensued.
70: Jerusalem was taken in and destroyed, as was the

Second Temple (Herod's Temple) under General Titus, Vespasian's
eldest son,
Coin with the legend "Freedom

of Zion". Minted 67-68
25
67 Paul’s second trial in Rome. 2 Timothy written. St. Paul martyred

on the road from Rome to Ostia. Beheaded by the sword.
67: Peter, martyred (crucified ) in Rome
The tradition that he was crucified on an inverted cross is first found in

Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History 2.25.5-8. St. Jerome further records the
tradition that this was Peter's request
Eusebius in his book entitled Ecclesiastical History (written AD 325)
26
In the first century Rome's Christians did not have their own
cemeteries.If they owned land, they buried their relatives there,. They
used common cemeteries. That is why Peter and Paul were buried in
"necropolis" ("city of the dead")
67-78: Linus becomes second (first ) Pope: 2Tm4:21

Pope from 64 -76 (but Esubius gives 67-79)
68: Nero commits suicide & resurrects as "Nero redivivus" (Revelation's

666 )
68: Qumran (Essenes ) (Dead Sea Scrolls - 1949)

community destroyed by Rome
69 According to tradition, St. Andrew was crucified in Patrae, on the

Peloponnesus peninsula.
69: Galba(6/68-1/69), Otho(1-4), Vitellius(6-12), emperors in series of

Rome
69-79-81-96: Flavian Dynasty of Rome:

Vespasian - Titus – Domitian
27
69-79: Vespasian emperor of Rome,

quells unrest in Rome and Jerusalem
70-640: Sanhedrin (High Court) period of Judaism, rise of house of

Hillel
70-132: Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Jabneh

(Jamnia), begun by Rabban Johanan ben Zakkai to 'perform
commandments and teach Torah'
70 : Gospel of Mark, Peter's interpreter [1Pt5:13], written in Rome

, ends unexpectedly at Mk16:8, original ending apparently lost, endings
added ~400
73: Jewish fortress at Masada falls to Rome,

residents commit mass suicide
74 : Publius Annius Florus, Roman historian
79: Pliny the Elder, b.23, Roman scholar,

vyesictim of Vesuvius eruption, wrote of Essenes.
79-81: Titus: Emperor of Rome, eldest son of Vespasian
79-91: Pope Anacletus: "blameless ", Titus 1:7
79 According to tradition, Jude and Simon were torn apart by a

Persian mob after this date. Simon had joined forces with Jude after a
trip to Britain. Jude had been in Armenia.
80 : Gospel of Matthew, most popular in early church, based on

Mark and Q
80/90 : "Council of Jamnia" said to have canonized Jewish

Scripture.
The Jewish Synod of Jamnia established the Hebrew canon, the modern
Protestant Old Testament. Esther, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and
Ezekiel were nearly left out of the canon, while Sirach was a strong but
unsuccessful contender for inclusion. Rabbis at Jamnia also articulated the
theory that every letter in the Hebrew has a meaning.
28
The language of the early church was Greek, and the version of the Old
Testament in use among both Christians and Jews of the diaspora was the
Septuagint. The Septuagint contains books (sometimes termed “the
Apocrypha”) not included in the Jamnian canon. As the Septuagint’s
prophecies of the Messiah frequently were used polemically by Christians,
the translation fell out of favor among the Jews. In time, non-Palestinian
Jews accepted the decisions of Jamnia. New translations of the Old
Testament scriptures were made based on the Jamnian standard text.
81-96: Domitian: emperor of Rome, son of Vespasian, "Nero redivivus "
90 : Gospel of Luke, based on Mark & Q, also Acts - same author,

style of LXX
90 According to tradition, Philip was crucified upside down (like Peter)

in Hierapolis, Asia Minor
90 According to Hippolytus, Matthew died a natural death, in Hierees,

Persia.
91-101: Pope Clement I: Phil 4:3 , wrote to Corinth in 95: "1 Clement"
93 2nd Persecution of Christians, under Domitian (81-96). The apostle

John banished to Patmos.
29
37 – 100 Josephus :
Josephus, Flavius, A.D. 37–c.A.D. 100, Jewish historian and

soldier, b. Jerusalem. Josephus' historical works are among the most
valuable sources for the study of early Judaism and early Christianity.
Having studied the tenets of the three main sects of Judaism—
Essenes, Sadducees, and Pharisees—he became a Pharisee. At the
beginning of the war between the Romans and Jews, he was made
commander of Galilee, despite the fact that he had opposed the
uprising. He surrendered to the Romans instead of committing suicide
when the stronghold was taken. He won the favor of the Roman
general Vespasian (Titus Flavius Vespasianus) and took his name,
Flavius. He lived in Rome under imperial patronage, where he wrote
the Greek-language historical works for which he is renowned. He
wrote The Jewish War; the famous Antiquities of the Jews, a history of
the Jews from creation to the war with Rome; Against Apion, an exalted
defense of the Jews; and his autobiography, or apologia. Josephus
claims exactly 22 Jewish (OT) books: 5 Law, 13 History, 4 Hymns
96-98: Nerva: Emperor of Rome
98-116: Trajan: emperor of Rome, Roman empire reaches maximum

size
30
100 : Gospel of John
Odes of Solomon, written in Greek or Syriac, ref by John (Apocrypha)

Epistle of Barnabas, Christian exegesis of LXX
2 Clement, an old sermon but not by Clement
2 Esdras (Vg:4 Esdras),
Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch:Syriac, 3 Baruch:Greek) (Peshitta)
Paralipomena of Jeremiah (4 Baruch), written in Hebrew (Ethiopic Bible)
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Aramaic and Hebrew fragments found
at Qumran Caves 1,4 (Armenian Bible)
Masoretes at Tiberias compile Masora (MT), standard Jewish Scriptures
Secret Book (Apocryphon) of James, Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Infancy
Gospels of Thomas and James, Secret Gospel (of Mark) (Complete Gospels)
100 Cerinthus
Around this time the heretic Cerinthus flourished. His teachings were an
offshot of the Ebionites yet similar to Gnosticism. He taught that the visible
world and heavens were not made by the supreme being, but by a lesser
power (Demiurge) distinct from him. Not Jehovah but the angels have made
the world and given the law. These creator-angels were ignorant of the
existence of the Supreme God.
He also claimed that Jesus was simply the natural son of Joseph and Mary,
and that a separate supernatural being, the Christ, came upon Jesus at his
baptism and departed at his crucifixion. According to the third century bishop
Dionysius of Alexandria, “the doctrine he taught was this: that the kingdom of
Christ will be an earthly one.” Cerinthus “was himself devoted to the
pleasures of the body and altogether sensual in his nature.” In Dionysius’
day, some claimed that Cerinthus wrote the book of Revelation.
End of Apostolic Era
31
AD 100 –--
105-165 Justin Martyr

Christian apologist, called also Justin the Philosopher. Born in Samaria
of pagan parents, he studied philosophy, and after his conversion in
Ephesus to Christianity at about the age of 38, he went from place to
place trying to convert men of learning by philosophical argument. He
opened a school of Christian philosophy at Rome, where he and some
disciples were finally martyred under Marcus Aurelius. Of his writings
(in Greek), only two undisputed works remain, the Apology (with an
appendix called the Second Apology) and the Dialogue. The Apology is
a learned defense of Christians against charges of atheism and
sedition in the Roman state; it contains an exposition of Christian ethics
and invaluable records of the customs and practices of 2d-century
Christianity. The Dialogue sets forth in the form of an argument with
Trypho (or Tryphon) the Jew a philosophic defense of Christian beliefs,
particularly with reference to Jewish writings; it has references to the
Gospels that have been of much interest to students of the Bible
32
107 3rd Persecution of Christians, under Trajan (98-

117).
110: "Letters of Ignatius", bishop of Antioch, martyred in Rome, his

letters were subjected to heavy Christian forgery esp. 4th cent.
(Apostolic Fathers)
Ignatius of Antioch, d. c.107, bishop of Antioch and Christian martyr,

called Theophorus [Gr.,= God-bearer]. He
was probably a convert and a disciple of St.
John the Evangelist. On his way to Rome to
be martyred by the wild beasts of the
amphitheater, he wrote the important letters to
the churches in Rome and in Asia Minor, and
to St. Polycarp. The seven epistles are an
invaluable testimony to the beliefs and
internal organization of the early Christians.
St. Ignatius is the first writer to stress the
virgin birth. He firmly denounced Docetism
and viewed the mystery of the Trinity as an
assumed doctrine of faith. The only guarantee
against heresy, he taught, is the church united
under a bishop. St. Ignatius is the first in
Christian literature to use the word Catholic.
61-114 Pliny the Younger, Roman consul
115: Lucian of Samosata Gk satirist. Lucian wrote a satire called The

Passing of Peregrinus, in which the lead character, Peregrinus, takes
advantage of the generosity and gullibility of Christians. This is one of the
earliest surviving pagan perceptions of Christianity.
115-117: Kitos War in Jerusalem, provoked by Roman Procurator

Lucius Quietus
125 - 225 Proliference of Gnostic writings.

125: Papyrus 52: oldest extant NT fragment, p.1935, parts of Jn18:31-
33,37-38
Shepherd of Hermas, written in Rome.
130-200: "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman Paganism

33
130: "Gospel of Basilides", a 24 book commentary , lost
Papias, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor, wrote: "Expositions of the

Sayings of the Lord", lost, widely quoted, see Eusebius (340)
Papias fl. A.D. 130, early Christian theologian said to have been bishop of
Hieropolis and a friend of St. Polycarp. Papias' five-volume work, Oracles; or,
Explanations of the Sayings of the Lord, survives only in fragments quoted
by Eusebius of Caesarea and St. Irenaeus. These are valuable sources for
the history of the church.
130 : Aquila of Pontus, Roman convert to Christianity then to Judaism,
Aquila of Pontus Translator of the canonical Scriptures from Hebrew

into Greek. He was by birth a Gentile from Pontus, and is said by Epiphanius
to have been a connection by marriage of the emperor Hadrian and to have
been appointed by him about the year 128 to an office concerned with the
rebuilding of Jerusalem as "Ælia Capitolina." At some unknown age he joined
the Christians, but afterward left them and became a proselyte to Judaism.
According to Jerome he was a disciple of Rabbi Akiba. The Talmud states
that he finished his translations under the influence of R. Akiba and that his
other teachers were Eliezer ben Hyrcanus and Joshua ben Hananiah. It is
certain, however, that Aquila's translation had appeared before the
publication of Irenæus' "Adversus Hæreses"; i.e., before 177.
Not to be confused with Aquila and Priscilla.
132-135: Bar Kokhba Revolt
Bar Kocbha Coin
The final Jewish revolt, Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, all of
southern Syria and renamed Palestine (coined by Herodotus)
34
50 -135: R. Akiva ben Joseph of Judea, executed by the Romans for

teaching Torah in public after revolt, flesh was torn from his body with
iron combs, coined "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" as 1st
principle of Torah
138-161: Antoninus Pius: emperor of Rome

138-165: Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Usha,
Galilee
140- 160 Letters of Marcion, produces his own canon without OT

and using only a heavily edited Luke + 10 Pauline Epistles, cites
"Western" Gospel text-type. Valentius and Marcion were Gnostics of
the period. 150 Gnostic “Gospel of Thomas”
Marcion c.85–c.160, early Christian bishop, founder of the

Marcionites, one of the first great Christian heresies to rival Catholic
Christianity. He was born in Sinope. He taught in Asia Minor, then went
(c.135) to Rome, where he perfected his theory. In 144 he was
excommunicated from the church. He then formed a church of his own,
which became widespread and powerful. Marcion taught that there were two
gods, proclaiming that the stern, lawgiving, creator God of the Old
Testament, and the good, merciful God of the New Testament were different.
He considered the creator god the inferior of the two. Marcion also rejected
the real incarnation of Christ, claiming that he was a manifestation of the
Father. Though generally seen as one of the most important leaders of the
somewhat loosely defined movement known as Gnosticism, he did not share
some of the main premises of other Gnostic sects. He believed in salvation
by faith rather than by gnosis; he rejected the Gnostic emanation theory; and
he sought truth in his own truncated version of the New Testament, which
included only 10 of the so-called Pauline Epistles and an edited version of St.
Luke.
He completely rejected the Old Testament. He explained in his Antitheses

that since Jewish law was often opposed to St. Paul, all passages in the
Bible that suggested the Jewish foundation of Christianity should be
suppressed, even including such statements by St. Paul. Marcionism
emphasized asceticism and influenced the developments of Manichaeism,
by which it was later absorbed. Its effect on orthodox Christianity was to
35
cause a canonical New Testament to be assembled and promulgated and the

fulfillment of the Old Law in the New Law to be clearly enounced.
135-160 Valentius
Valentinus c.135–c.160, founder of the Valentinians,
the most celebrated of the Gnostic sects (see Gnosticism) of the 2d cent.
The little that is known of his life is found in the works of early Christian
theologians who refuted him, such as St. Irenaeus and Clement of
Alexandria. Probably born in Egypt, Valentinus received his education in
Alexandria and after c.135 t aught in Rome, where he attracted brilliant
converts.
Valentinus viewed ultimate reality as a procession of aeons, 33 in all, issuing

in pairs from the primal aeons, abyss and silence. From these came mind
and truth, in turn engendering word (logos) and life. The thirtieth aeon,
Sophia, by her inordinate desire to penetrate the abyss, caused great
disorder within the pleroma (divine realm). Her passion was banished to a
formless existence outside the pleroma. It is for the restoration of order and
the salvation of the progeny issuing from the expelled passion that the last
three aeons are produced—Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus the Savior, who
is the “common fruit” of the pleroma. Ruler of the outcast world is the proud
Demiurge, identified with the deity of the Old Testament, who created the
forms of life by which man is ensnared. Jesus appears in the world to reveal
the knowledge (gnosis) that will restore man to the divine order. Valentinus
wrote letters, homilies, and psalms, of which fragments survive. The recently
discovered Coptic manuscript “Gospel of Truth” may be by Valentinus.
Valentinus was the founder of Roman and Alexandrian schools of
Gnosticism, an eclectic, dualistic system of religious doctrines postulating the
evil origin of matter and the revelatory enlightenment, or gnosis, of an elite.
Valentinus flourished 136-165 CE in Rome and Alexandria. Valentinian
communities, by their expansion and long standing, provided a major
challenge to 2nd and 3rd century Christian theology.
36
140 Apocalypse of Peter, written in Greek
150 Justin Martyr's "Dialogue with Trypho" fictional Christian-Jewish

debate
Gospel of the Egyptians, Coptic translation of orig. Greek (Nag
Hammadi)
Papyrus P29,38,48 & Codex Bezae (D)
Papyrus Chester Beatty 6: R963
155 : Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, martyred at age 86:
Polycarp, Saint c.A.D. 70–A.D. 160 , Greek bishop of Smyrna, Father of the
Church. He was a disciple of St. John, who appointed him bishop. Thus he
linked the apostles and such 2d-century Christian expositors as St. Irenaeus.
St. Polycarp was a close friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch. As a very old man,
Polycarp went to Rome to discuss the problem of dating Easter. He died a
martyr in Smyrna. His one surviving work is the Epistle to the Philippians.
Irenaeus wrote, “Polycarp also was not only instructed by the Apostles, and
conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also by Apostles in Asia,
ordained Bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early
youth, having always taught the things which he had learned from the
Apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are
true.”
164-180: Great Plague in Roman empire
165: Letters of Justin Martyr, cites "Acts of Pilate", debates Trypho the
Jew
165-180: Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in

Shefaram, Galilee
37
166-174: Pope Soter: moved Easter from Nisan 14 to following Sunday
125 – 202 Irenaeus, (130- 200) bishop of Lyons
Irenaeus, c.125–c.202, Greek

theologian, bishop of Lyons, then called
Lugdunum, in Gaul, and one of the Fathers of
the Church. Born in Asia Minor, he was a
disciple of St. Polycarp. Irenaeus went to Rome to
plead for leniency toward the Montanists and
for those Eastern Christians who were
threatened with excommunication because they
did not observe the Roman date for Easter. He
remained in the West and died in Gaul.
Irenaeus was the earliest Father of the Church to
systematize those Christian beliefs that would
later be accepted as orthodox doctrine and is
cited frequently by later theologians. Only two of
his works survive—neither in the original
Greek. The five-volume Against Heresies
establishes Christian doctrine against the
Gnostics and incidentally supplies much information on Gnosticism. The
Epideixix is a concise exposition of Christian doctrine. 177
Irenaeus believed that the plan of the new covenant is the “recapitulation”
of the original creation: by Adam’s sin, the likeness to God had been lost,
but the image had been retained. By faith in Christ, man may recover the
lost likeness. For him, the history of salvation is a progressive education in
which God has gradually brought man forward in a long process by the
gospel.
Irenaeus, like Justin Martyr, believed that Christ will reign on earth
for a thousand years, and he vehemently protested against
attempts to allegorize away the millenarian proof texts.
Irenaeus argued against the Gnostic doctrine of a secret teaching by

appealing to apostolic succession -- if there had been such a teaching, the
apostles would have passed it on to their successors. The apostles, he
claimed, taught the Rule of Faith (very similar to our Apostles’ Creed).
Irenaeus wrote, “The tradition of the Apostles is manifest throughout the
whole world; and we are in a position to reckon up those who were, by the
Apostles, ordained bishops in the churches, and the succession of those
men to our own time. If the Apostles had known hidden mysteries, they
would have delivered them, especially to those to whom they were
committing the churches themselves. For they were desirous those men
should be very perfect and blameless in all things, whom also they were
leaving behind as their successors, delivering up their own place of
38
government to these men.”
Irenaeus viewed baptism as the seal of eternal life and new birth unto God,
through which the Holy Spirit is imparted. He wrote, “... he came to save all
persons himself; all, I mean, who by him are regenerated unto God: infants
and little ones and children and youths and older persons.” (Since infants
are said to be born again, this seems to be a reference to infant baptism.)
For Irenaeus the eucharist was the “new oblation of the new covenant”
offered to God throughout the world. Irenaeus associated the eucharist not
closely with Christ’s passion, as Justin did, but sees it primarily as an
offering of first fruits. But Irenaeus did identify the bread and wine with
Christ’s body and blood. Irenaeus held that Mary was not sinless. He is
the earliest source for the church’s observance of Pentecost as a special
feast day. He does state that Peter had been in Rome, and that Linus had
been the first bishop there, having been jointly ordained by Peter and Paul.
Irenaeus mentioned a group of Gnostics who honored images, giving the

impression that the use of images was relatively unknown in the Church in
his location and time. He affirmed that the charismata were still active in
his day, noting that demons were expelled, the future predicted, and the
dead raised by members of the Church. In refuting one of the Gnostics'
peculiar interpretations of scripture, Irenaeus related the tradition he had
received from those who had known John (and other apostles) to the effect
that Jesus had been nearly fifty years old when he was crucified.
170: Christian council on Montanist sect in Asia Minor

170 : Symmachus, an Ebionite, writes an entirely new Greek OT
translation.
Ebionites [Aramaic,=poor], Jewish-Christian sect of rural Palestine, of the

first centuries after Jesus. There were two groups, according to Origen. The
Judaic Ebionites held closely to Mosaic law and regarded Jesus as a miracle-
working prophet and St. Paul as an apostate. Gnostic Ebionites believed
Christ to be a spirit, invisible to men, giving him the title “Prophet of the Truth.”
175: Acts of Paul (inc. 3 Cor.), in Greek [NT Apocrypha]
177 5th Persecution of the church, under the Emperor

Marcus Aurelius (161-180). About this time also Gnostic heretics
disturbed the churches of the Rhone valley. These churches were
39
largely Greek, having close connections with the churches of Asia

Minor. The Gnostics provoked much of the work of Irenaeus of Lyons.
Marcus Aurelius Antonius (121-180 AD)

Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher.
178: Celsus writes "True Discourse", a pro-Pagan/anti-Christian

polemic, lost
154=222 179 Conversion of Bardesanes (154-222) to

Christianity.
Bardesanes was instrumental in the introduction of Christianity into the

region of Edessa, and was considered heretical by the Christians who came
after him. He was influenced by Gnostic thought, denying the immediate
creation by God of the universe and Satan, introducing a series of
intermediate beings instead. Bardesanes thus became a leading figure in
Syrian Gnosticism. Christian philosopher and poet of Syria, missionary
among the Armenians. Conflicting traditions report him both as defender of
the faith against various Gnostic sects and as a heretic and founder of
Bardesanism.
When twenty-five years old, he heard the preaching of the bishop Hystapes
and converted to Christianity. He soon converted his friend king Abgar IX of
Edessa (179-216 e.v.), who established Bardesanian Christianity as the
Edessan state religion. When Edessa was conquered by the Roman
Emperor Caracalla in 216 e.v., Bardesanes fled to Armenia, where he
continued his teachings.
180-192: Commodus: Emperor of Rome
180-210: Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Beth-

shearim
40
185-350: Canon Muratorian: first extant for NT written in Rome

by Hippolytus
Rejected all Old Testaments. Excluded -Hebrews, James, 1-2Pt, 3Jn;

Included: Wisdom of Solomon, Apocalypse of Peter
189-198: Pope Victor I: first Latin Pope, excommunicated Eastern

churches that continued to observe Easter on Nisan 14
"Quartodeciman"
190: Christian council to determine "official" date of Easter

197 Quartodeciman Easter controversy
193-211: Septimius Severus: emperor of Rome
200: Mishnah, Torah teachings, Halakhah (Oral Law), by
Hillel/Akiva/Meir/Judah
200-300: period of Neo-Platonism: developed in Alexandria, last of

Greek philosophies
200: Papyrus 66; Papyrus 75: Papyrus 46; Papyrus 32: Papyrus 64
(+67):
Old Syriac (Aramaic) Gospels, Syr(s) & Syr(c), of "Western" text-type
41
200 Mara Bar-Serapion (died ~211), eighth bishop of Antioch,

wrote that the Gospel of Peter
should be rejected on the grounds
that it had not been "handed down to
us." Bishop of Antioch (190-211).
Known principally through his
theological writings.
200 : Latin Bible translations begun in Carthage , originals no longer

extant Sahidic Coptic cop(sa) Bible translations written in Alexendria
Theodotion, Greek convert to Judaism, makes revision of LXX
(Septuagint)
160–c.230 215 Tertullian becomes Montanist.
42
Tertullian (Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus),

c.160–c.230, Roman theologian and Christian apologist, b. Carthage. He
was the son of a centurion and was well educated, especially in law.
Converted to Christianity c.197, he became the most formidable defender of
the faith in his day. His Latin is vigorous and effective and reflects his juridical
training. Sentences of his that have become proverbial are “The blood of
martyrs is the seed of the church,” and “It is certain because it is impossible”.
Some of Tertullian's opinions differed from the main stream of Christian
thought, particularly his more rigorous view of sin and its forgiveness. After
long defending the Montanists, he left the church to join them; he later
established his own sect, known as Tertullianists. Tertullian's most important
writings are Apologeticus, Ad Nationes, and De Praescriptione.
202 Martyrdom of Perpetua, Felicitas, and their companions

150- 220 : Clement
of Alexandria,
bishop, cites
"Alexandrian" NT
text- type & Secret
Gospel of Mark & Gospel
of the Egyptians; wrote:
"Exhortations to
the Greeks";"Rich
Man's Salutation";"To
the Newly Baptized"
43
Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), d. c.215,

Greek theologian. Born in Athens, he traveled widely and was converted to
Christianity. He studied and taught at the catechetical school in Alexandria
until the persecution of 202. Origen was his pupil there. He probably died in
Caesarea, Cappadocia. Clement was one of the first to attempt a synthesis
of Platonic and Christian thought; in this his successors in the Alexandrian
school were more successful. Only a few works survive. The Address to the
Greeks (Protrepticus) sets forth the inferiority of Greek thought to Christianity.
Appended to the Tutor (Pedagogus) are two hymns, among the earliest
Christian poems. His homily, Who Is the Rich Man Who Is Saved is a well-
written fragment. The Miscellanies (Stromateis) is a collection of notes on
Gnosticism. He attacked Gnosticism, but he himself has been called a
Christian Gnostic. Although Clement remained entirely orthodox, in his
writing he strove to state the faith in terms of contemporary thought. He was
long venerated as a saint, but Photius, in the 9th cent., regarded Clement as
a heretic. Because of Photius's contentions the name of Clement was
removed from the Roman martyrology.
2nd C : Catacombs were used as burial places for believers. It started

as family tombs.
44
Crypt of St.Cecilia
210-240: Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in

Sepphoris Galilee
212-217: Geta and Caracalla: Emperors of Rome
212: "Civis Romanus sum!", Roman citizenship for every free born
subject
217: Judah Ha-Nasi, "Rabbi", codified Mishnah (200)
218-222: Heliogabalus: emperor of Rome
222 Julius Africanus the Chronologist
Julius Africanus went on an embassy to the emperor Severus to gain

his support for the building of Nicopolis in Palestine (formerly Emmaus).
Africanus is best known for his chronology, in which he states that the time from
Adam to the sixteenth year of Tiberius (29/30 A.D.) is 5531 years. It would thus
seem that 1 A.D. is year of the world 5501 in Julius’ chronology. Nevertheless,
the chronographer George Synkellos (see 808-10) stated that Africanus dated
the creation of the world to 1 A.M. (anno mundi, year of the world -- 5501 B.C.),
the Flood to 2262 A.M. (3240 B.C.), the Exodus to 3707 A.M. (1795 B.C.), the
Incarnation to 5500 A.M. (2 B.C.), and the crucifixion to 5531 A.M. (30 A.D.).
Africanus was also architect for the library Severus built in the Pantheon in
Rome, completed in around 227, and he corresponded with Origen, arguing
that the book of Susanna (included in the Septuagint text of Daniel) was
spurious.
222-235: Alexander Severus: emperor of Rome
225 : Papyrus 45: Papyrus 967: ~Codex Vaticanus
45
230-250: Christian council of Rome, Demetrius bishop of

Alex. condemns Origen
231 A private house in the city of Dura-Europas on the Euphrates was

adapted for Christian worship. This is the earliest known example of a church
with religious pictures on the walls. The art appears to have been influenced
by similar work in a synagogue in the same city. Depicted on frescoes are
Adam and Eve, the Good Shepherd and his flock, the Samaritan woman at the
well, Christ walking on the water, the raising of Lazarus, the resurrection of
Christ, the healing of the paralytic and David’s victory over Goliath.
The baptistry in the Christian Church at Dura-Europos.
235 Persecution under the emperor Maximin (235-238).

236-238: Maximinus: emperor of Rome, ends Christian schism in Rome
by deporting Pope Pontian and anti-Pope Hippolytus to Sardinia where
they soon die
238-244: Gordian I, II, Balbinus, Pupienus, Gordian III: emperors of

Rome
46
249 In around this year, a council in Smyrna determined that heretics

must be rebaptized before they could enter the Church. This is what
was reversed in the Council of Nicea.
249-51 7th Persecution of the Church, under the

emperor Decius (249-251).
251: Christian council of Carthage.

244-249: Philip the Arabian: Emperor of Rome.
249-251: Decius: emperor of Rome
250: Letters of Methodius, Pistis Sophia, Porphyry Tyrius; church

fathers
250: Rome steps up persecution of Christians, martyrs revered as

saints
250: Diophantus of Alexandria, first book of algebra
250 : Mandeans (followers of John the Baptist) begin compilation of

"Ginza"
47
Mandaeans or Mandeans, a small religious sect in Iran and S Iraq, who

maintain an ancient belief resembling that of Gnosticism and that of the
Parsis. They are also known as Christians of St. John, Nasoraeans, Sabians,
and Subbi. A few Mandaeans survive, some near the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers, others in the area of Shushtar, Iran, and in cities of Asia Minor. Their
customs and writings indicate early Christian, perhaps pre-Christian, origin.
Their system of astrology resembles those of ancient Babylonia and the cults
of the Magi in the last centuries B.C. Their emanation system and their
dualism suggest a Gnostic origin, but unlike the Gnostics, they abhor
asceticism and emphasize fertility. Although some of their practices were
influenced by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, they reject all three. The
Mandaeans respect St. John the Baptist because of his baptizing, since their
principal concern is ritual cleanliness and their chief rite is frequent baptism.
The custom, which antedated the baptisms of St. John, stems from the belief
that living water is the principle of life. They have a communion sacrament,
which is offered for the remembrance of the dead and resembles Parsi ritual
meals. The origin of the Mandaeans is not known; it is conjectured that they
came from a mountainous region N of Babylonia and Persia, where they
settled in ancient times; however, more recent scholarship places their origin
in Palestine or Syria. Their chief holy book, the Ginza Rba, like their other
books, is a compendium of cosmology, cosmogony, prayers, legends, and
rituals, written at various times and often contradictory.
250 : Papyrus 72: Papyrus Chester Beatty:
251-253: Gallus: emperor of Rome
251-258: anti-Pope Novatian: decreed no forgiveness for sins after

baptism
48
253-260: Valerian: emperor of Rome, executes all Bishops, Priests and

Deacons
254-257: Pope Stephen I: major schism over rebaptizing heretics and

apostates
254: Origen,
b.185 , coined "homoousios" or Jesus and God of one substance,

adopted at Council of Nicaea in 325, compiled "Hexapla": 6 versions
of LXX side by side: Hebrew, Hebrew transliterated in Greek, Aquila's
Greek trans., Symmachus' Greek trans., Origen's revised LXX Greek
trans., Theodotion's revised LXX; Quinta/Sexta/Septima trans.,
Tetragrammaton in square Hebrew script; cites "Alexandrian" &
"Caesarean" NT text-types; Eusebius claimed Or. castrated himself
for Christ due to Mt19:12
Origen “Adamantius” became head of the catechetical school in

Alexandria. He left the school in 232 or 233. Born in Alexandria
around 185, Origen had been taught by Ammonius Saccas, the same
person who later taught Plotinus (see 244 below). Many speculate
that Ammonius was the originator of Neoplatonism. Later, Origen
had been instructed by Clement of Alexandria. Origen died in Tyre in
253 or 254. His death was largely due to the harsh treatment he
received in prison in Tyre during the Decian persecutions (from about 249).
49
Origin compiled the Hexapla, six translations of the Old Testament in parallel
columns including the Hebrew, a transliteration of the Hebrew into Greek,
and the four main Greek versions. His method of interpreting scriptures was
largely allegorical and conveyed spiritual truth -- the literal sense was of little
moment to him. Like Clement, he rejected a literal millennium.
He believed that all souls existed before they united with the flesh. All souls
but one fell away from God; and it was this one faithful soul that God chose
to unite with his Logos to form the Son of Man. Origen believed in the
freedom of the will, and did not exclude the possibility that the redeemed
may fall away, even in heaven. On the other hand, Origen held that the devil
himself will be saved. Many of his views, particularly on the pre-existence of
souls and universal redemption, were condemned at the Fifth Ecumenical
Council in 553.
Origen was opposed to Monarchianism, either in its modalistic form, or in the

view that the Son was simply a holy man filled to a unique degree with the
Spirit. He taught that while the Father and the Son are one in power and will,
they are two distinct realities (similar to Justin’s Logos theology). They are
distinct as the archetype and the flawless image. But, in Origen, the Son is
lower in being than the Father and is subordinate to him. The Son is
begotten, not made, and his generation is eternal, not in time. He is the
mediator between the created world and the Supreme Father.
Origen insisted Mary needed redemption from her sins, like all other
humans. Unlike Tertullian, he believed Mary remained a virgin for the rest of
her life. He believed Jesus’ brothers are Joseph’s sons, not hers. . In his
Commentary on Romans, written between 233 and 244, Origen wrote, “It is
also due to this [hereditary sin] that the church has a tradition from the
apostles to give baptism even to infants.”
In Mt 16.17-18 Origen saw the Rock as Christ (1 Cor 10.4), and all who
have faith in Christ like Peter as ‘rocks.’ According to Ep 2.2, all the apostles
(and the prophets) are the foundation on which the church is built.
Origen died in 254 after torture.
200 - 258: Letters of Thascius Caecilus Cyprianus (Cyprian) , bishop of

Carthage, cites "Western" NT text-type, claims Christians are freely
forging his letters to discredit him. Martyred in 258.
260-268: Gallienus: emperor of Rome, reverses Valerian, restores

Roman church
50
260-272: Christian council on Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch,

founder of Adoptionism: Jesus was human until Holy Spirit descended
at his baptism
Paul of Samosata Syrian Christian theologian, heretical patriarch of

Antioch. He was a friend and high official of Zenobia of Palmyra. Paul
enounced a dynamic monarchianism, denying the three Persons of the
Trinity. He taught that the Logos came to dwell in Jesus at baptism, but that
Jesus possessed no extraordinary nature above other men, the Logos being
entirely an attribute of God. Paul was repeatedly challenged and finally
excommunicated (269), but he continued to function as bishop under
Zenobia's protection until the Romans took Palmyra (272). Arius may have
been his pupil and his influence on Nestorius was considerable, but his
connection with the Paulicians is disputed. See adoptionism.
According to Simeon of Beit Arsam, Paul had said, “I too, if I wish, shall be
Christ since I and Christ are of one and the same nature.” Theodore of
Mopsuestia quoted Paul as follows: “I do not envy Christ because he has
been made God. For what he was made, I was made, since it is in my
nature.” It was reported that at Antioch psalms were sung in praise of Paul
rather than of God.
Paul was condemned by a synod in Antioch in 268 (264 )
190 -264: Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria
268: Goths sack Athens, Sparta, Corinth
268-270: Claudius II: emperor of Rome
275: Papyrus 47: 3rd Chester Beatty, ~Sinaiticus, Rv9:10-11:3,5-

16:15,17- 17:2
276-282: Marcus Aurelius Probus: emperor of Rome
276: Mani, b.215, crucified,

51
Founder of Manichaean Christian sect in Persia - Gnostic

Mani visits China and India.
Mani converts Inner Indian Churches into Gnostic groups which grew
into present day “Hinduism”.
Persecution of Christians in Central India.
Introduction of idols in Indian Churches which was strongly objected by the
Malankara Churches.
Mani was born in southern Babylon sometime around the year 215 or 216
CE and received his first revelation at the age of 12. Around the age of 20 he
seems to have completed his system of thought and began missionary work
around the year 240. Although he found some support early on from Persian
rulers, he and his followers were eventually persecuted and he appears to
have died in prison in 276. His beliefs had, however, spread as far as Egypt
and attracted a great many scholars, including Augustine.
Manicheism, the belief system named after him, is an extreme form of

dualistic gnosticism. It is gnostic because it promises salvation through the
attainment of special knowledge of spiritual truths. It is dualistic because it
argues that the foundation of the universe is the opposition of two principles,
good and evil, each equal in relative power.
284-305: Diocletian: emperor of Rome, notorious persecutor of

Christians
285: Roman empire partitioned into Western and Eastern empires
52
296-304: Pope Marcellinus: apostate, offered pagan sacrifice for

Diocletian
300: Bohairic Coptic cop(bo) Bible translations written in Alexandria

Hesychius of Alex., martyr, translates Hebrew OT to Greek, lost
[Jerome]
Papyrus Berlin Codex of Greek Genesis; Papyrus Bodmer 24 of Greek
Psalms; Codex Freer of Greek Minor Prophets
300 St. Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III of

Armenia to the Christian faith. Armenia thus became a Christian
nation. During the following century, the liturgy was translated into and
conducted in Armenian.
300 The Apostolic Constitutions
Canon 85 gave the following list of the canon of Scripture: “Let the following
books be esteemed venerable and holy by you, both of the clergy and laity.
Of the Old Covenant: the five books of Moses-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy; one of Joshua the son of Nun, one of the
Judges, one of Ruth, four of the Kings, two of the Chronicles, two of Ezra,
one of Esther, one of Judith, three of the Maccabees, one of Job, one
53
hundred and fifty psalms; three books of Solomon-Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,

and the Song of Songs; sixteen prophets. And besides these, take care that
your young persons learn the Wisdom of the very learned Sirach. But our
sacred books, that is, those of the New Covenant, are these: the four
Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the fourteen Epistles of Paul; two
Epistles of Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude; two Epistles of
Clement; and the Constitutions dedicated to you the bishops by me Clement,
in eight books; which it is not fit to publish before all, because of the
mysteries contained in them; and the Acts of us the Apostles.” [Note that
Revelation is absent from the New Testament canon.]
The Apostolic Constitutions also contain clear evidence that infant

communion was practiced in the church.
301 Under King Tiridate, Armenia adopted Christianity as the state

religion.
303 The council of Elvira (Illiberis, near Granada). Nineteen bishops

and 24 priests met at this first council of the Church in Spain. The
council adopted 81 canons, 34 of them dealing with marriage and
sexual misconduct.
1306-337: Emperor Constantine the Great: converts to

Christianity on deathbed
54
Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus

Constantine I came to the throne when his father, Constantius, died in 306.
After defeating his rivals, Constantine became the sole ruler of the Roman
Empire in 324, and is credited with social and economic reforms that
significantly influenced medieval society. In 313 his Edict of Milan legally
ended pagan persecution of Christians, and in 325 he used imperial power to
bring unity to the church at the Council of Nicea. He also moved the capital of
his empire to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople in 330. Constantine's
embrace of Christianity eventually led him to be baptized in 337.
1306-312: Maxentius: emperor of Western Roman Empire
1306-308: Pope Marcellus I: tried removing prior Pope Marcellinus from

official records for apostasy, exiled from Rome by Maxentius for
disturbing the peace
1306: Synod of Elvira prohibits eating, marriage, sex between

Christians & Jews
312: Lucian, founded Exegetical School of Antioch, revised LXX,

martyred
312: Constantine defeats Maxentius at Milvian Bridge, reunites Roman

Empire
1313: Edict of Milan
Constantine establishes toleration of Christianity. Edict of Milan gives

Christians equal rights. It was issued by Constantine in the West and Licinius
in the East, but Licinius soon withdrew it. But in 324 Constantine defeated
Licinius and becomes Emperor of both East and West.
313: Miltiades excommunicates Donatus for requiring rebaptism of

apostates
55
Donatism, schismatic movement among Christians of N Africa (fl. 4th

cent.), led by Donatus, bishop of Casae Nigrae (fl. 313), and the theologian
Donatus the Great or Donatus Magnus (d. 355). Could a priest guilty of
apostasy confer baptism/absolution The schism arose when certain
Christians protested the election of the bishop of Carthage, charging that his
consecration by Felix, bishop of Aptunga, was invalid because Felix was
considered a traditor (i.e., one who turns over sacred books and relics to the
civil authorities during a persecution). Condemnation was extended to all in
communion with Felix. Behind their objection lay the heresy, familiar to
Montanism and Novatian, that only those living a blameless life belonged in
the church, and, further, that the validity of any sacrament depended upon
the personal worthiness of the priest administering it. The Donatist practice of
rebaptizing was particularly abhorrent to the orthodox. Condemned by the
Synod of Arles (314) and also by the Roman emperor, Constantine I, the
Donatists seceded (316) and set up their own hierarchy. By 350 they
outnumbered the orthodox Christians in Africa, and each city had its
opposing orthodox and Donatist bishops. It was the teaching of St.
Augustine, as presented in his writings and at the debate between orthodox
and Donatist bishops at Carthage (411), that turned the tide against
Donatism. Strong state suppression and ascetic excesses among some of
their own members further reduced their number.
The remnants of the schismatic movement had vanished along with African
Christianity before the advent of the Islamic invaders.
314: Council of Arles, called by Constantine against Donatist (Donatus)

schism
321: Constantine decrees SUN-day as official Roman-Christian day of
rest
56
Arius (250-336) A parish priest in Alexandria, he advanced the

doctrine famous as Arianism and was excommunicated locally (321).
He was declared orthodox in Asia Minor, where he had fled (323), but
he was anathematized by the Council of Nicaea (see Nicaea, First
57
Council of) and banished by Roman Emperor Constantine (325). But in

the reaction after Nicaea, he came into imperial favor. The emperor had
ordered the Athanasians at Alexandria to receive him at communion
when he suddenly died.
"‘If,’ said he, ‘the Father begat the Son, he that was begotten had a beginning
of existence: and from this it is evident, that there was a time when the Son
was not. It therefore necessarily follows, that he had his substance from
nothing.’"
Arius formulated the following doctrines about Jesus Christ:

1. that the Logos and the Father were not of the same essence (ousia);
2. that the Son was a created being (ktisma or poiema); and
3. that though He was the creator of the worlds, and must therefore have
existed before them and before all time, there was - Arius refused to use such
terms as cronos or aion - when He did not exist.
58
Athanasius (297-373) –
He was born in Alexandria about the year 297 He was a student in the
"Didascaleion," or famous "catechetical school " of Alexandria, which included
amongst its already illustrious teachers the names of Clement and Origen. In
his youth, as secretary to Bishop Alexander, he took part in the christological
debate against Arius at the Council of Nicaea, and thereafter became chief
protagonist for Nicene orthodoxy in the long struggle for its acceptance in the
East. He defended the homoousion formula . Made bishop of Alexandria upon
the death of his superior, he faced a conspiracy led by Eusebius of Nicomedia
to return the condemned Arius to Egypt. When Athanasius refused to yield, a
pro-Arian council held at Tyre (335) found him guilty of sacrilege, the practice of
magic, dishonest grain dealings, and even murder. Athanasius appealed to
Constantine who demanded a retrial, then unaccountably ordered Athanasius
into exile—the first of five. Reinstated (337) and exiled again (339), he fled to
the West where, under Pope Julius I, the Council of Sardica vindicated him
(343) bishop of Alexandria remembered as the "father of orthodoxy" for
defending the essential Christian doctrines of the Trinity and Christ's
Incarnation. He was a fiery, disciplined preacher who emphasized the presence
of God in history. He also opposed the speculations of Origen, considering the
Bible sufficient for theology. The Athanasian Creed is named after him. Titles:
Against the Gentiles; Defense Against the Arians; On the Incarnation of the
Word. 328 Athanasius was bishop of Alexandria and ruled for 46 years
325: Council of Nicaea, called by Constantine against Arianism

(336), called "1st great Christian council" by Jerome, 1st ecumenical,
318 bishops attended Arius of Alexandria, taught that Christ was the
59
first created being, that there was a time when He was not. The council
declared that Jesus was begotten, not made, and that He is
Homoousios, of the same substance as the Father. Athanasius was
the chief proponent of Homoousis theory.
325: Fayyumic Coptic cop(mf) translation fragment of John 6:11-15:11

329 — Basil the Great of Cappadocia,
330–379 the monk who created the basic Rule for the Eastern Orthodox
monks that is still in use today. Basil taught communal monasticism that
serves the poor, sick, and needy. One immediate effect of the disappearance
of persecution is the rise of monasticism to replace the old martyr witness
Greek prelate, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Doctor of the Church and
one of the Four Fathers of the Greek Church. He was a brother of St.
Gregory of Nyssa. In his student days at Athens he knew Julian, later Roman
emperor, and began his lifelong friendship with St. Gregory Nazianzen
Converted to the religious life by his sister, St. Macrina, he withdrew (c.357)
to a retreat in Pontus. There he wrote much of the Longer Rule and of the
Shorter Rule; on these the life of the Basilian monks is based. Through his
rules Basil was a spiritual ancestor of St. Benedict. As counselor (365) and
successor (370) of Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea and head of most of the
church in Asia Minor, Basil established Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism in
the Byzantine East. His revision of the liturgy is occasionally used in the
Byzantine rite. His works On the Holy Ghost and Against Eunomius are
60
elegant, acute defenses of the Catholic system. In the West his feast is June
14.
325-900: Teotihuacan, ancient Mexican city
331: seat of Roman empire moved to Constantinople

(former Greek Byzantium)
334-365: Codex Hermogenianus: compilation of Roman Law
337-350: Roman Empire splits again: Constans emperor of West until

350
337-361: Roman Empire splits again: Constantius II emperor of East

until 361
338: Jewish calender modified with different year lengths to correct to

Solar year.
340: Eusebius of Caesarea, theologian & church historian.

Author of History of the Church, Life of Constantine, The Martyrs of
Palestine
Eusebius of Caesarea or Eusebius Pamphili , c.263–339 , Greek apologist

and church historian, b. Palestine. He was bishop of Caesarea, Palestine
(314 –339). In the controversy over Arianism, Eusebius favored the semi-
Arian views of Eusebius of Nicomedia, and he once gave refuge to Arius. A
simple baptismal creed submitted by Eusebius at the First Council of Nicaea
(325) formed the basis of what became known as the Nicean Creed; it was
amended with the Greek word homoousios [consubstantial, of the same
substance] to define the Son's relationship with the Father. Eusebius
61
considered this addition to the creed as reflecting the ideas of Sabellius,

which he opposed. Although he signed the formulary, he later did not support
it. His works include a universal history entitled the Chronicle, the
Ecclesiastical History, and the apologetic works Praeparatio Evangelica and
Demonstratio
Evangelica
340- Eustasthiu of Antioch - Arians destroyed all his writings.
342 Council of Sardica. 200 bishops attended. The council was

presided over again by the now aged Hosius, bishop of Cordoba,
Spain, assisted by two representatives of Pope Julius, the priests
Archidamus and Philoxenus. There were slightly fewer bishops from
the East, perhaps 75 or 80 being Arian. They were headed by Stephen,
who had succeeded to the see of Antioch, and Acacius who had
succeeded Eusebius of Caesarea,.
John Chrysostom or John of Constantinople [Gr.,=golden-

mouth], c.347–407,
Doctor of the Church, one of the greatest of the Greek Fathers. He was born in
Antioch and studied Greek classics there. As a young man he became an
anchorite monk (374), a deacon (c.381) and a priest (386). Under Flavian of
Antioch he preached brilliantly in the cathedral for 12 years, winning wide
recognition. In 398 he was suddenly made patriarch of Constantinople, where
he soon gained the admiration of the people by his eloquence, his ascetic life,
and his charity. He was a bold and reforming preacher, who used the
Historical-grammatical method of exegesis. This was unusual, because
exegetes had been looking at the allegorical interpretation ever since Clement
of Alexandria and Origen His grammatical interpretation of Scripture would
later be the model for Luther and Calvin. Chrysostom emphasizes reverence in
church services. His attempts to reform the clergy, however, alienated many
monks and priests, and the court of the Roman emperor of the East came to
resent his denunciation of their ways. He lost favor when he demanded mercy
for the dishonored Eutropius and when he refused to condemn without a
hearing certain monks accused of heresy. Empress Eudoxia and Theophilus,
bishop of Alexandria, succeeded in having St. John condemned (403) by an
illegal synod on false charges. The indignation of the people was reinforced by
an opportune earthquake, and the superstitious Eudoxia had St. John recalled.
He continued to attack the immorality of the court, and Emperor Arcadius exiled
him to Cucusus in Armenia. In 438, St. John's body was returned to
Constantinople, and Emperor Theodosius II did penance for his parents'
offenses.
62
John Chrysostom
347 — Jerome: Bible Scholar and translator, author of Vulgate
Version of Bible.
Also Known As Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius; Girolamo; Hieronymus;

Man of the Bible
Born to a rich pagan family, he led a misspent youth. Studied in Rome.

Lawyer. Converted in theory, and baptised in 365, he began his study of
theology, and had a true conversion. Monk. Lived for years as a hermit in the
Syrian deserts. Reported to have drawn a thorn from a lion's paw; the animal
stayed loyally at his side for years. Priest. Student of Saint Gregory of
Nazianzen. Secretary to Pope Damasus I who commissioned him to revise
63
the Latin text of the Bible. The result of his 30 years of work was the Vulgate
translation, which is still in use. Friend and teacher of Saint Paula, Saint
Marcella, and Saint Eustochium, an association that led to so much gossip,
Jerome left Rome to return to the desert solitude. Lived his last 34 years in
the Holy Land as a semi-recluse. Wrote translations of Origen, histories,
biographies, and much more.
350: Codex Sinaiticus : Codex Vaticanus (B): earliest Christian

Bibles
Papyrus Antinoopolis of Book of Proverbs in Greek, published in 1950
Papyrus Chester Beatty:
Papyrus Bodmer 45-46:
350: Canon Cheltenham: 24NT books (excludes James, Jude,

Hebrews)
= Akhmimic cop(ac) & Sub-Akhmimic cop(ac2) Coptic translations
of John
== Ulfilas, apostle to the Goths (Germans), translates Greek NT to
Gothic. Ulfilas converted to Arian Christianity. He takes it to the
Germanic tribes, gives them an alphabet, and translates the Bible into
their language. Most of the Germanic tribes became Arian Christians.
350 : Avesta (Zoroastrian texts back to 1,000 bce)

compiled in Persia
351 Cyril of Jerusalem is most famous for his Catechesis

(instructions before Baptism).
64
353 Emperor Consantius releases his pro-Arian campaign and drives

Athanasius from Alexandria
Pelagius (c.355–c.425).
Pelagianism, Christian heretical sect that rose in the 5th cent. challenging St.
Augustine's conceptions of grace and predestination. The doctrine was
advanced by the celebrated monk and theologian Pelagius (c.355–c.425). He
was probably born in Britain. After studying Roman law and rhetoric and later
theology in England and Rome, he preached in Africa and Palestine, attracting
able followers, such as Celestius and Julian of Eclannum. Pelagius thought that
St. Augustine was excessively pessimistic in his view that humanity is sinful by
nature and must rely totally upon grace for salvation. Pelagius rejected the
doctrine of original sin; he taught that children are born innocent of the sin of
Adam. The law as well as the gospel can lead one to heaven and that pagans
had been able to enter heaven by virtue of their moral actions before the
coming of Christ. Pelagianism was condemned by East and West at the
Council of Ephesus (431). A compromise doctrine,
Semi-Pelagianism, became popular in the 5th and 6th cent. in France, Britain,
and Ireland. Semi-Pelagians taught that although grace was necessary for
salvation, men could, apart from grace, desire the gift of salvation, and that
they could, of themselves, freely accept and persevere in grace. Semi-
Pelagians also rejected the Augustinian doctrine of predestination and held that
God willed the salvation of all men equally. At the instance of St. Caesarius of
Arles, Semi-Pelagianism was condemned at the Council of Orange (529).
By the end of the 6th cent., Pelagianism disappeared as an organized heresy,

but the questions of free will, predestination, and grace raised by Pelagianism
have been the subject of theological controversy ever since
355-365: anti-Pope Felix II: Arianism (336), supported by Constantius II
360: Huns invade Europe, scrolls begin to be replaced by books

(Codex)
361-363: Emperor Julian the Apostate was converted from Christianity

to paganism and restored paganism in Rome . He removed the
restrictions against Donatists.
1363: Letters of Marius Victorinus, Acacius of Caesarea; early church

fathers
363: Council of Laodicea names 26NT books (excludes Revelations)
65
366-384: Pope Damasus I: hired thugs to massacre rival Ursinians

(Liberians)
364: Council of Laodicea decrees death for Christians who keep 7th
day Sabbath
367: Letters of Hilary of Poitiers, Lucifer of Calaris; early church fathers
370: Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, Cyprus; cites 27NT + Wisdom of

Solomon
370: Doctrine of Addai at Edessa proclaims 17 book NT canon using

Diatessaron (instead of the 4 Gospels) + Acts + 15 Pauline Epistles
(inc. 3 Corinthians)
373: Letters of Ephraem Syrus, cites "Western" Acts text-type
379-395: Theodosius the Great: last emperor of united empire.
380: Feb 27, Christianity declared official state religion by

Theodosius
66
Theodosius
378: Letters of Titus of Bostra, Ambrosiaster, Priscillian; church fathers
Gregory of Nazianzus (325-389) - poet and bishop of

Nazianzus; one of the three chief defenders of the Trinity against Arius.
Gregory's tender personality led him to be overcautious in his
assertions, but he was nevertheless persecuted by Arians.
67
379 : St. Basil the Great, Greek Christian writer.
Basil the Great c.330–379,

Greek prelate, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Doctor of the Church and
one of the Four Fathers of the Greek Church. He was a brother of St. Gregory
of Nyssa. In his student days at Athens he knew Julian, later Roman emperor,
and began his lifelong friendship with St. Gregory Nazianzen. Converted to the
religious life by his sister, St. Macrina, he withdrew (c.357) to a retreat in
Pontus. There he wrote much of the Longer Rule and of the Shorter Rule; on
these the life of the Basilian monks is based. Through his rules Basil was a
spiritual ancestor of St. Benedict. As counselor (365) and successor (370) of
Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea and head of most of the church in Asia Minor,
Basil established Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism in the Byzantine East. His
revision of the liturgy is occasionally used in the Byzantine rite. His works On
the Holy Ghost and Against Eunomius are elegant, acute defenses of the
Catholic system. In the West his feast is June 14.
381 Council of Constantinople. The Nicene position becomes

dominant again, and the legal religion of the Empire. Jesus Christ is
truly human, contrary to Apollinarianism, which held that Jesus had a
human body but a divine mind. The Great Cappadocians are the
inspiration behind the defeat of Arianism at this council. They are St.
Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nazianzus and St. Gregory of Nyassa.
68
First Council of Constantinople:

Held between May and July in 384, and called by emperor Theodosius I, the
First Council of Constantinople was the second ecumenical church council in
Christianity. All 186 bishops who attended were from the East - none from the
West and no representatives of Pope Damasus I were there.
Theodosius' purpose in calling this council was to deal with the threat of the
Arian controversy and the council's final decisions included: the Holy Spirit is
divine, Jesus Christ is fully human, and Jesus Christ is co-equal with God.
Second Council of Constantinople:

Meeting from May 5 through June 2 of 553, the Second Council of
Constantinople was the fifth ecumenical council of Christianity. It was called
by emperor Justinian I, primarily to deal with the heresy of Nestorianism.
Almost all of the bishops who attended from the East and for a while Pope
Virgilius was forced to accept Justinian's condemnations.
Third Council of Constantinople:

Held between November 7, 680 and September 6, 681, the Third Council of
Constantinople was the sixth ecumenical council in Christianity. It was called
by emperor Constantine IV because of the recent decision at a synod
convened by Pope Agatho which had declared that Jesus Christ had two
wills, contradicting the teachings of Monotheletism. The bishops meeting at
Constantinople agreed with Agatho and reiterated the decisions made at the
earlier Council of Chalcedon that Christ had two wills - one human and one
divine - which work together harmoniously.
Fourth Council of Constantinople:

Held between October 5, 869 and February 28, 870, the Fourth Council of
Constantinople was the eight ecumenical council according to the Roman
Catholic Church. It was used to condemn the teachings of Photius, the
former patriarch of Constantinople who opposed the inclusion of filioque in
the Nicene Creed.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, however, does not recognize the authority of
this council. Instead, it recognizes the authority of a separate council held in
Constantinople between 879 and 880 which approved of Photius and which
also rejected the use of filioque, annulling the decision made at the other
council.
382 A council in Rome recognizes the present books of New Testament

as canon.
382: Pope Damasus I has Jerome begin revision & unification of Latin
Bibles
69
383: Roman legions begin to evacuate Britain
384: Jerome presents Pope Damasus I with new Latin Gospels,

originals lost
385: Tao-an, b.312, Chinese Buddhist philosopher
386: Letters of Cyril of Jerusalem, cites "Caesarean" NT text-type

389- -. St. Patrick. He was a British Romanized Christian who
established Christianity in Ireland
390: Apollinaris of Laodicea, b.310, Jesus had human body but divine
spirit
390: Letters of Tyconius, Gregory of Nyssa, Didymus of Alex.; church
fathers
391 : Ammianus Marcellinus, b.330, Christian historian, wrote: "Res
gestae"
Augustine of Hippo
Aurelius Augustinus
70
Augustine was born in a Roman province (Modern day Algeria) in 13

November 354 and educated at Carthage. As a young man he became
interested in philosophy. Augustine of Hippo was the most influential
theologian of Latin Christianity. Early in his life he was inspired by the
works of Cicero to devote his life to the pursuit of truth. He started this
pursuit as a Rhetorician, then he became a Manichaean, and later a
Skeptic. He eventually got converted to Roman Catholicism in 386. In
391, he was almost forcibly ordained presbyter at Hippo, and from 395
to 430, he served as bishop. He wrote many treatises among which we
find the celebrated Confessions, The City of God and On the Trinity.
Many of his writings were directed against heresies, particularly
Manichaeism, Donatism, and Pelagianism. By 396 he had become
bishop of Hippo, and his sermons and writings gained fame, notably his
Confessions and the treatise City of God.
His notions of God's grace, free will and Original Sin had a great
influence on Christian theology.
386 Augustine was converted in a garden in Milan after hearing a child

saying, “Take up and Read”. He took the Bible and got Romans 13:13-
14
1387 Augustine was baptized by Ambrose of Milan. 391 Augustine was

ordained in Hippo, North Africa.
395 Agustine becoms bishop of Hippo.
397-401 Augustine writes Confessions
393 AD Council of Hippo cites exactly 27NT books as canon.
397 The Council of Carthage agrees with the Council of Hippo

395: Theodosius prohibits practice of Pagan rituals including Olympic
Games
310-395: Ausonius, Christian governor of Gaul;
396: Alaric, king of the Visigoths, plunders Athens
333-397: Ambrose, bishop & governor of Milan, wrote: "de Fide" ...
71
397: Ling-pao ching writes "Book of the Sacred Jewel", Taoist

philosophy
400-600: era of "aggressive forgeries" in Christian texts

[Grant,J.T.S.,1960]
400 : Vulgate Bible (Hebrew OT; Latin, Greek NT:Latin), by Jerome
(340 -420) Originals lost, Vulgate Latin Text becomes standard Western
Christian Bible
400 : Codex Vercellensis it(a): Latin Gospels, of "European" text-type

Peshitta Bible, Syriac (Aramaic) Vulgate, Syr(p), OT + 22 NT, excludes:
2Pt, 2-3Jn, Jude, Rev; Peshitta becomes standard Syrian Christian
Bible
Palestinian Talmud (Mishnah (Oral Law) + Gemara (Mishnah
commentary))
Pericope of the Adulteress, John 7:53-8:11, added to Bible
[Jerome,(D)]
Codex Bobiensis
401-417: Pope Innocent I: decreed Roman custom the norm for

Christianity
401: Visigoths invade Italy
403: Letters of Epiphanius of Constantia, John Chrysostom; church

fathers
348-405 : Prudentius, greatest Christian Latin poet.
410: beginnings of Alchemy
72
413: Kumarajira, b.334, Chinese Buddhist philosopher
414: Letters of Nicetas of Remesiana, Orosius; early Christian church

fathers
414: Seng-chao, b.384, Chinese Buddhist philosopher, "Book of Chao"
Cyril of Alexandria (375-444) - bishop of Alexandria who

opposed Nestorius at the Council of Ephesus.
Cyril upheld the biblical teaching that Christ was fully divine from eternity and
that in His Incarnation He was one person with two natures. Cyril also opposed
Novatianism. He is remembered for his letters to Nestorius and for his
commentary on the Gospel of Luke.415: Bishop Cyril of Alexandria. (444)
expels Jews, kills Hypatia with oyster shells
73
Cyril of Alexandria
416: Visigoths take Spain
423: Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, notes Tatian's Harmony (170) in

heavy use
427 : Ashi, head of Sura Yeshiva, "Rabbana", began compilation of

Bab. Talmud
430: St. Augustine, b.354, origin of "Original Sin," church father &
philo-sopher, wrote: "The City of God", "Confessions";
430: Letters of Marcus Eremita, Nilus of Ancyra; Christian church

fathers
431: Council of Ephesus: 3d ecumenical;decreed Mary: Mother of God

(Theotokos)
431: Letters of Nonnus of Panopolis, John Cassian; Christian church

fathers
74
431: Syrian Christianity splits into East (Nestorian) and West

(Jacobites)
432: St. Patrick begins mission in Ireland
433-453: Attila the Hun: b.406 , "Scourge of the Gods"
444: Letters of Cyril of Alexandria, Arnobius the Younger; church

fathers
449 The Latrocinium (Robber's) Council. Dioscorus, Patriarch of

Alexandria, presided. This Council declared Eutychianism, which held.
The council deposed Flavian, the orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople
Eutychianism was a heresy in the 4th and 5th centuries begun by a

monk named Eutychus (378-452, AD). He lived in Constantinople. Eutychus
taught that Christ's humanity was absorbed in his divinity. It taught that
Christ had only one nature and His humanity was not like ours. This the
opponents argued would make redemption impossible.
He was condemned and deposed from the Monestary in A.D. 448 and then
finally exiled at the council of Chalcedon in 451.
450 : Codex Alexandrinus (A) : Codex Bezae (D): Codex Washingtonianus (W):
Codex Ephraemi Syri rescriptus (C): Codex Marchalianus (Q):
Codex Ambrosianus (F): Codex Freer: Codex Colberto-Sarravianus:
Codex Palatinus: Codex Veronensis : Syr(pal), Palestinian Syriac
(Aramaic) Gospels: std. Aramaic Targums, T. Onkelos of Torah, T.
Jonathan of Prophe
451 Nestorius of Constantinople.

Nestorians said that Mary was the bearer of Christ (christokos), but not the
bearer of God (theotokos).
75
Nestorius
Nestorius was consecrated bishop of Constantinople on April 10th,

428. His elevation to this influential position had profound repercussions for
the church. A firm opponent of the Arian heresy.
Arians taught that Christ was a created being. To refute this and other points,
Nestorius argued that the Godhead joined with the human rather as a man
enters a tent or puts on clothes. Instead of depicting Christ as one unified
person, Nestorius saw him as a conjunction of two natures so distinct as to
be different persons who had merged.
Nestorius refused to call Mary the "Mother of God." -“Theokotos” and forsaw
the danger of Mary being deified. Mariolatorers were always part of the
Roman church. Her baby was very human, he said. Jesus' human acts and
sufferings were of his human nature, not his Godhead. To say Mary was
Mother of God was to say God had once been a few hours old. "God is not a
baby two or three months old," he argued.
He never denied that Christ was divine. On the contrary, it was to protect his
divinity that he argued as he did, lest it be lost in worship of the human child.
The divine nature could not be born of a woman. Nestorius' refusal to use the
term "theotokus," Mother of God, led to a big argument. He pointed out that
the apostles and early church fathers never employed the word. But he could
not resolve the issue so as to bring into focus the Jesus we know from
scripture who is completely and truly both God and man.
Nestorian churches appeared in Arabia, India, Tibet, Malabar, Turkostan and

Cyprus. Many exist to this day, especially in Iraq. Some units reunited with
76
the Roman Catholic church around the sixteenth century. The Kerala
Churches were Nestorian untill they were forced into the Roman Catholic
Church when the Portugese colonized India.
In 1895, the book the “Bazaar of Heracleides”, written towards the end of his
life, he explicitly denies the heresy for which he was condemned, instead,
affirming of Christ "the same one is twofold"
451: Council of Chalcedon: 4th ecumenical.

Eutychianism is condemned, Dioscorus is deposed, The Tome of Leo is
confirmed. Jesus Christ is "two natures, the Divine of the same substance as
the Father (against Arianism), the human of the same substance as us (against
Eutychianism), which are united unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly,
inseparably (against Nestorianism)." The church remains divided over these
issues for the next 200 years
451: Letters of Hesychius, Quodvultdeus; early Christian church fathers
454: Eutyches of Constantinople, Monophysites: Jesus was divine but

not human
455: Vandals sack Rome
457-474: Pope Leo I becomes emperor of remaining (eastern) Roman

empire
1463: Letters of Prosper of Aquitaine, early Christian church father
466: Letters of Shenute of Atripe, Theodoret of Cyrrhus; early church

fathers
470: flowering of Mayan city culture in southern Mexico
474-491: Zeno: eastern Roman emperor
476: official end of western Roman empire, last emperor Romulus

Augustulus.
484-519: Acacian schism: over "Henoticon" divides Western and

Eastern churches
484: Letters of Vigilius of Thapsus, early Christian church father
77
489: Zeno destroys Nestorian (451) school at Edessa, erects Church of

St.Simeon
491: Armenian Church secedes from East (Byzantium) and West

(Rome) churches
491-518: Anastasius I: eastern Roman emperor
492-496: Pope Gelasius I (1st 'Vicar of Christ')
498: Nestorians (451) settle in Nisibis, Persia and India
498-506: anti-Pope Lawrence: Lawrentian schism
500: incense introduced in Christian church service, first plans of

Vatican
500: Tamo brings tea from India to China
500 : Codex Sangallensis : Codex Argenteus (got): earliest nearly

complete Gothic (German), Gospels: Codex Cottonianus: Greek
Genesis
502: Narsai of Mealletha, Syrian poet, heads Nestorian school in

Nisibis(498)
518-527: Justin I: emperor of Byzantine (former eastern Roman)

empire
480-524: Boethius, Roman Christian philosopher,

wrote: "Theological
Tractates", "Consolation of Philosophy"; (Loeb
Classics) (Latin)
525: Dionysius Exiguus sets Christian calendar

(a.d.) & Jesus birth as 23 Dec 1ce
78
483.565 Justinian I Byzantine emperor (527–65), nephew and

successor of Justin I.
527: Letters of Fabius Claudius Gordianus Fulgentius, early

Christian church father
Roman senatorial family. Well educated. Lieutenant governor of Byzacena.

Monk, led to the religious life by the writings of Saint Augustine of Hippo,
whose work remained a touchstone for him the rest of his life. Abbot.
Bishop of Ruspe (modern Kudiat Rosfa, Tunisia) in 508. Exiled with 60 other
79
bishops to Sardinia during the invasion of the Arian Vandals led by

Thrasimund. There they built a monastery, and continued to write, pray, and
study.
Returned to Carthage in 515 to debate with Arians; that he was exiled again
in 518. King Hilderic succeeded Thrasimund in 523, and permitted the exiles
to return.
529: Justinian closes 1000yr Athen's School of Philosophy, declared

Paganistic
529 The Council of Orange approves the Augustinian doctrine

of sin and grace, but without absolute predestination.
529-534: "Corpus Juris Civilis", a compilation of Roman law by

Tribonian
533: N. Africa captured by Belisarius from Vandals, becomes Byzantine

province
534-870: Malta becomes Byzantine province
535: Synod of Clermont excludes Jews from public office
537-555: Pope Vigilius: involved in death of Pope Silverius, conspired

with Justinian and Theodora, excommunicated by N. African bishops in
550 ...
538: 3d Synod of Orleans requires Jews to remain indoors during

"Passion Week"
539-562: war between Byzantine Empire and Persia
541-546: Codex Fuldensis vg(F): Latin Vulgate, 27NT + Epistle to

Laodiceans
542: plague in Constantinople from Egyptian and Syrian rats, spreads

to Europe
543: Justinian condemns Origen (254), disastrous earthquakes hit the

world
544: Justinian condemns the "3 Chapters" of Theodore of Mopsuestia
(d.428)
80
and other writings of "2-natures" Christology of Council of Chalcedon

(451)
547: Pope Vigilius issues "Iudicatum" supporting Justinian's anti- "2-

natures"
548: Letters of Apringius Pacensis, early Christian church father
550-1453: Medieval Greek of Constantinople (Byzantium) becomes

standard Greek
550: Byzantine Greek Text, standard Eastern Bible
550: St. David converts Wales to Christianity, crucifix becomes

Christian icon
550 : Codex Claromontanus (Dp): Codex Mediolanensis vg(M):

Latin Vulgate Gospels: Codex Veronensis: Greek & Old Latin
Psalms
552: Emperor Shotoko Taishi introduces Buddhism into Japan
552: Justinian sends Christian missionaries to China & Ceylon to get

silkworm
553: silk industry monopoly established in Byzantine empire
555: 2nd Council of Constantinople: 5th ecumenical, called by Justinian
556-561: Pope Pelagius I: selected by Justianian, endorsed "Iudicatum"

(547)
565-578: Justin II: Byzantine emperor
567: Letters of Primasius, Cassiodorus; early Christian church fathers
572-628: war between Byzantine Empire and Persia

560 b. Isidore of Seville, whose Book of Sentences was the key book of
theology until the twelfth century
578-582: Tiberius II: Byzantine emperor
81
582-602: Maurice: Byzantine emperor
587: Visigoths of Spain converted to Christianity
589: Lombards of Italy converted to Christianity
590: plague in Rome
590-604: Pope Gregory I.
575: Gregory was a highly educated public official, held the highest public
office obtainable in Rome (presided over the Roman Senate) turned his
house into a monastery, founded six more monasteries on family land in
Sicily
579: re-emerged as public figure when called to Constantinople to be a papal
representative
586: by popular acclaim chosen as pope
He was a very effective and popular pope during a time when the
government was weak. He fed the peasants and protected farms and
villages from Lombard invasion. His development of the doctrine of purgatory
was instrumental in establishing the medieval Roman Catholic sacramental
system. 602 Through Gregory's influence and his baptism of a Lombard
King's child, the Lombards begin converting from Arianism to Orthodoxy .
595: 1st authenticated record of decimal number system (0-9) appears

in India
82
596: St. Augustine of Canterbury sent to convert Britain to Christianity
600: Babylonian Talmud (Mishnah(Oral Law) + Gemara(Mishnah

commentary)); Ashi
600: Pope Gregory "strives" to convert the Jews to Christianity
600: book printing in China
600 : Codex Harleianus vg(Z): Latin Vulgate Gospels:

Codex Philoxenian/Harclean Syr(ph/h): Syriac 27NT, "Western"
text-type
602-610: Phocas: kills Maurice, becomes Byzantine emperor
609: Roman Pantheon (a Pagan Temple) renamed Church of Santa

Maria Rotonda
610-641: Heraclius: kills Phocas, becomes Byzantine emperor
610: Muhammad's vision on Mount Hira
614: Persians take Damascus and Jerusalem and "Holy Cross of

Christ"
615: earliest records of some of Muhammad's teachings
616: Persians take Egypt
618-907: T'ang dynasty of China
619-625: Pope Boniface V: authorized by Heraclius
622: first year in Muslim calendar, The Hegira, 1a.h., (a.h. = anno
hegirae). Islamic years are also called Hijra years because the first
year was the year during which the Hijra occurred—Muhammad's
emigration from Mecca to Medina. Thus each numbered year is
designated either H or AH, the latter being the initials of the Latin anno
Hegirae (in the year of the Hijra).
622-680: Monothelite controversy: condemned at 6th Ecum. Council of
Const.
83
1624: Muhammad marries Aisha, daughter of Abu Bekr
625: Paulinus of Rome comes to convert Northumbria to Christianity
625: Muhammad begins dictation of Qur'an (Koran) to his scribe
625: Brahmagupta, mathematician of India, teaches at Ujjain
626: King Edwin of Northumbria founds Edinburgh and begins

Christianization
627: Byzantines defeat Persians at Nineveh, discover Indian sugar

cane
628: Emperor Heraclius wins back "Cross of Christ" from Persians

(614)
628: Muhammad captures Mecca & writes to rulers of the world

explaining Islam
629: Heraclius recovers Jerusalem from Persians
632: East Anglia Christianized
570-632: Muhammad, Arab prophet and founder of Islam
632: Abu Bekr, first Islamic Caliph, seat at Medina
634: Omar I, 2d Caliph, takes Syria/Persia/Egypt;defeats Heraclius in

Holy War
635: Christianization of Wessex
635-750: Damascus becomes capital of Islamic Caliphs
635 By 635 Nestorian Christianity had reached the heart of China, and
India. It disappeared after two hundred years in China but was the
main theology of Indian Churches until the coming of the Portugese
when they were forced into Roman Catholicism.
636: Southern Irish Church submits to Roman Catholicism
637: Jerusalem captured by Islam
84
638: Emp. Heraclius' "Ecthesis", decrees Christ of one nature:

"Monothelites"
640: Library of Alexandria, "The Center of Western Culture," with

300,000 ancient papyrus scrolls, is completely destroyed.
663 Synod of Whitby reconciles the old British liturgy and the Roman
liturgy
675- . John of Damascus, Eastern Orthodox mystic
Called the last Greek father and the first Christian Aristotelian, St. John
Damascene was born c. 676 into a wealthy Christian family. His father was a
logothelete, an advisor to the vizier, and John took over the post when his
father retired. C. 716 John resigned from his position and retired to the Mar
Saba monastery, where he eventually became a monk. He wrote three
treatises in defense of the use of icons and opposed the iconoclasm of
Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. These works led to John's condemnation at the
Council of Hieria in 754. John had been dead for five years at the time of his
condemnation, and the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 restored his good
name. John also wrote poetry and revised the Octoechoes, the cycle of eight
weekly tones around which Byzantine worship centers.
Of John's 150 works, the most famous is The Source of Knowledge
690 Earliest Bible translations into England's vernacular, continued

work by Bede
and others from this point forward
711 Islam has spread from India to North Africa. All of North Africa is
under Islamic control
720 Muslims take Spain
85
726-787 The iconoclastic controversy. Emperor Leo III

attacked the use of images.
John of Damascus defended the use of icons in worship by differentiating
between veneration and worship. He also argued that the use of images is
an affirmation of Christ's humanity, because a real person can be depicted.
The opposition responds that images of Christ are not valid depictions
because they can only represent his humanity, but not his divinity
iconography [Gr.,=image-drawing] or iconology [Gr.,=image-study], in art
history, the study and interpretation of figural representations, either
individual or symbolic, religious or secular; more broadly, the art of
representation by pictures or images, which may or may not have a symbolic
as well as an apparent or superficial meaning.
732 Europeans turn back the Muslims at the Battle of Tours

750 Tower added to St Peter's Basilica at the front of the atrium
787 Council of Nicea supports the decision of John of Damascus
concerning icons. This decision was not well recieved in the West
because John's words for veneration and worship were difficult to
translate
800 Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne head of the Holy Roman Empire
(a.k.a. the Nominally Christian Germanic Kingdom). His dynasty is
called the Carolingian Empire. His reign is the cultural high point of the
Early Middle Ages
850 King Alfred translation of several Bible books into English

vernacular, also done by Aldhelm and Aelfric
875-950 The Dark Ages.

The Carolingian Empire was weakened and was assailed by new
invaders. This period also marks the low point of the papacy
AD 1000 -1300
1014 Pope Benedict VIII officially added filioque to the

Nicene Creed. It means that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father
and the Son. He did this to insist on the equality of the deity. But the
86
Eastern Church insists that the Holy Spirit came from the Father
through the Son. They are offended that the West altered the Creed
without an ecumenical council
1033 - . Anselm, father of scholasticism. He proposed the Ontological
Argument for the existence of God. He argued for the necessity of the
Incarnation and Redemption of Christ
1054 Split between Eastern and Western churches

formalized, Orthodox Church founded. Pope Leo IX's delegate,
Cardinal Humbert, laid a sentence of anathema on the alter of St.
Sophia Church, the most prestigous Eastern Orthodox church. The two
churches are permanently separated ,
1079 Under the Seljuk Turks, the Muslims are more determined than
previously to keep the Christians from making pilgrimages to the Holy
Land
1093 - Bernard of Clairvaux, the most influential person of his day. He

helped
reform the monastaries. He was a great preacher, in spite of his
allegorical exegesis
. And he was Augustinian in his doctrines of grace, which later gave
Calvin and the other reformers an anchor in the High Middle Ages
1095-1291 10 Crusades,
1st called by Pope Urban II, to restore Asia Minor to Byzantium and
conquer the Holy Land from the Turks The First Crusade fought for
lofty ideals. The pope wanted to save Constantinople, save the
Byzantine Empire, and thus heal the breech between the Eastern and
Western Church. They were able to temporarily regain the Holy
Land1100 - Peter Lombard, scholastic author of Four Books on the
Sentences, the standard theological text for 200 years. It influenced
Calvin's Institutes
1140 - Peter Waldo in Lyons, France.1174 Peter Waldo converted .He

is the founder of an old, old protestant church (300 years before
Luther). The Waldensian church still exists in some parts of the world
today, but in most countries it merged with the Methodists and
Presbyterians. Waldensians stress the authority of scripture and lay
preaching. They also come to reject salvation by sacraments. 1184
Waldensians are declared heretical by the Roman Chutch .
87
1147-1148 The Second Crusade. Bernard of Clairvaux was the chief

motivator of this crusade, but somehow his reputation survives it. It was a
disastrous failure. The failure was blamed by the Westerners on the lack of
committment of the Eastern Church. The wedge is driven deeper
1189-1192 The Third Crusade is an ineffective attempt to recover

Jerusalem
1200-1204 The Fourth Crusade. The Crusaders finished this crusade
by looting Constantinople, the seat of the Eastern Orthodox church. So
much for the lofty ideals of the First Crusade 1209 Innocent III
proclaims a "crusade", a papal inquisition, against the Waldensians
1212 The Children's Crusade. The children felt they could take the
Holy Land supernaturally because they were pure in heart. Most of
them were drowned, murdered, or sold into slavery
1215 Fourth Lateran Council requires annual communion for

salvation. Also condemns the Waldensians. They are persecuted for
the next 600 years. They sought refuge in the Alps, and thus were not
directly involved in the Reformation of Luther until later
1216 Papal approval for the Dominicans, the Order of Preachers.

Their purpose was to oppose heresy with piety, learning and zeal
1219- 1221 The Fifth Crusade. The crusaders temporarily held

Damietta in Egypt. Francis of Assisi went with the crusaders. But where
they stopped, Francis kept going. He went unarmed into the presence
of the sultan and preached to him
1206 Rosary is reportedly given to St. Dominic by an apparition of

Mary
1215 Dominican order begun
1223 Franciscan order begun
1224 St. Francis’ Stigmata, a mystical experience of the wounds of
Christ. Francis died in 1226.
88
11224/1274 b. Thomas Aquinus, the chief teacher of the Catholic Church.

Author of “Summa Contra Gentiles” an apologetic handbook for Dominican
missionaries to Jews, Muslims, and heretics in Spain, and “Summa Theologica”
the theological textbook that supplanted Lombard's Sentences as the chief
theological work of the Middle Ages.
1229 The Sixth Crusade. Frederick II temporarily gained Jerusalem by making
a treaty with the sultan 1232 b. Raymund Lull, first missionary to the Muslims
1248 The Seventh Crusade. St. Louis IX of France is defeated in Egypt. This
was the last crusade. The final result of the crusades is that the western
Christians drove a wedge between the Church and the Jews, between the
Church and the Muslims, and between the Western and Eastern Church.
1260 Date which a 1988 Vatican sponsered scientific study places the
origin of the Shroud of Turin
c.1300-c.1400 The Black Death. 1/3 of the population from India to

Iceland is wiped out, including about 1/2 of Britain
1309 - 13 77 The "Babylonian Captivity of the Church." For 70

years the papacy was in Avignon and under the thumb of the King of
France. The papacy was pro-France, and Britain was at war with
France
1316 Raymund Lull stoned to death
1321 The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri
89
1350 English begins to emerge as the national language of England
1350 Renaissance begins in Italy
1354 Earliest extant documentation stating the existance of the Shroud

of Turin
1380-1517 Period between the 1st complete English translation of the

Bible and Martin Luther's 95 Theses
1330-1382 John Wycliffe, eminant theologian at Oxford, makes

NT (1380) and OT (with help of Nicholas of Hereford) (1382)
translations in English, 1st complete translation to English, included
deutercanonical books, preached against abuses, expressed
unorthodox views of the sacraments (Penance and Eucharist), the use
of relics, and against celibacy of the clergy
Wycliff
1371 - John Huss, Bohemian pre-
reformer. He was greatly influenced by
90
Wycliffe. He rejected indulgences and said Christ is the head of the

Church, not the pope
Huss
1378 The Great Schism. Pope Gregory XI moves the papacy

back to Rome. France declares Clement VII pope in Avignon.
There are two competing popes for close to 40 years.
1380 b. Thomas a Kempis, author of Imitation of Christ
91
1381 The Peasant's Revolt. 30,000 angry peasants descend on

London
1381 Because of his sympathy for the peasants, Wycliffe is suspected
of involvement with the revolt. He is banished from Oxford. During this
period, he and his followers translate the Bible from the Vulgate into
English 1384 died . Wycliffe, of natural causes
1384 John Purvey, follower of John Wycliffe, revises Wycliffe's

translation
1390 Wycliffe's teachings condemned repeatedly in England
1408 Council of Oxford forbids translations of the Scriptures into

the vernacular unless and until they were fully approved by Church
authority, sparked by Wycliffite Bible, Sir Thomas More said: "It neither
forbiddith the translations to be read that were already well done of old
before Wycliffe's days, nor damneth his because it was new but
because it was naught; nor prohibiteth new to be made but provideth
that they shall not be read if they be made amiss till they be by good
examination amended." ("A Dialogue against Heresies")
St. Joan of Arc, French national heroine

92
1415 Council of Florence condemns all of Wycliffe's works, but

the actual Bibles continued to be used after having the heretical
prologue removed, and were possessed by both religious houses and
those of the nobility and tacitly accepted by Catholics
1415 Council of Constance condemns Wycliffe, 1428 The Catholic

Church burned the bones of Wycliffe and threw them in the Swift river .
July 6, 1415 Council of Constance burns John Huss, in violation of

the Emperor's promise of safe conduct. The Emperor is told "It is not
necessary to keep one's word to a heretic."
1417 The Council of Constance deposes both popes and elects a new
one. This ends the Great Schism. It is a high point for Conciliarism, the
idea that the councils are superior to the papacy
1428 The Catholic Church burned the bones of Wycliffe and threw
them in the Swift river
93
1452 b. Savonarola, the great preacher. He taught the authority of

scripture and understood the shortcomings of the Church. Died 1498
1453 End of the Hundred Years' War
1453 Byzantium succeeded by the Ottoman Empire
1466-1536 Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch scholar, Greek NT used in

many 16th century translations
1473.1481 Sistine Chapel built, under supervision of Giovanni de Dolci

1478 Inquisition established by Pope Sixtus IV
Martin Luther, leader of Protestant reformation, preached that only

faith leads to salvation without mediation of clergy or good works,
attacked authority of the Pope, rejected priestly celibacy, recommended
individual study of the Bible.
1488-1569 Miles Coverdale, Augustinian friar who left the Order,

repudiated Catholicism, 1st Protestant Bishop of Exeter
1491.1556 Ignatius of Loyola, founded the Jesuit order –

counter reformation
94
1492 Erasmus ordained. Erasmus's Humanist movement was

beginning to stir some members of the church to moral reform
1492 Christopher Columbus's first voyage, discovers

San Salvador - begins Spanish colonization of the
New World
1505.1572 John Knox, Protestant reformer in Scotland.

Founder of Scottish Presbyterianism
95
1506 Pope Julius II orders the Old St Peter's Basilica torn down and
authorizes Donato Bramante to plan a new structure, demolition
completed in 1606
1507 Luther is ordained as a preist at Erfurt 1510 Luther sent to Rome

on monastic business. He saw the corruption of the church
1508.1512 Michelangelo frescoes the Sistine Chapel's vaulted

ceiling
1509.1547 Henry VIII ruler of England
96
1509.1564 John Calvin, preached predetermination and that good

conduct and success were signs of election
1510 Luther sent to Rome on monastic business. He saw the

corruption of the church
1517-1994 Modern Era of Christianity - Luther, Calvin

lay the seeds of modern Protestantism, England
breaks away from the Catholic Church 1515 While
teaching on Romans, Luther realizes faith and
justification are the work of God
1484–1531, Swiss Protestant reformer. Zwingli, Huldreich or
Ulrich
97
1515 While teaching on Romans, Luther realizes faith and justification

are the work of God
11517 Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of the church in

Wittenburg. It is the first public act of the Reformation
1518-1532 St Terese of Avila
1520 Luther excommunicated
1522 Luther's German NT translation
1524 South German peasant uprising, repressed with Luther's support,

begins 1.5 century long religious wars
1525-1534 Tyndale's translation of the NT from Greek text of Erasmus

(1466) compared against the Vulgate and the Pentateuch from the
Hebrew (1525) compared to Vulgate and Luther's German version
(1530), first printed edition, used as a vehicle by Tyndale for bitter
attacks on the Church, reflects influence of Luther's NT of 1522 in
rejecting "priest" for "elder", "church" for
"congregation"
1530 Augsburg Confession, Martin Luther founds the Lutheran

Church
1531 Reported apparition of Mary at Guadalupe, Mexico, considered

"worthy of
belief" by the Catholic Church
98
1531 Earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal kills 30,000
1534 Henry VIII breaks England away from the Catholic church,
confiscates monastic property, beginning of Episcopal Church Henry
VIII declares himself "The only supreme head in earth of the Church of
England"
1535 Anabaptists take over Muenster
1536 death of Erasmus
1536 Menno Simons rejects Catholicism, becomes an Anabaptist, and

helps restore that movement back to pacifism
1536 William Tyndale strangled and burned at the stake. He was the
first to translate the Bible into English from the original languages
99
1536 First edition of Calvin's Institutes
1534 Jesuit order founded by Lyola (1491-1556), helped reconvert

large areas of Poland, Hungary, and S. Germany and sent
missionaries to the New World, India, and China
1535-1537 Coverdale's Bible (see 1488), used Tyndale's (1525)

translation along with Latin and German versions, included Apocrypha
at the end of the OT (like Luther) as was done in later English
versions, 1537 edition received royal license, but banned in 1546
1536 Tyndale put to death, left his OT translation in manuscript,

English
ecclesiaastical authorities ordered his Bible burned because it was
thought to be part of Lutheran reform
1537-1551 Matthew Bible, by John Rogers (1500-1555), based on

Tyndale and Coverdale received royal license but not authorized for
use in public worship, numerous editions, 1551 edition contained
offensive notes (based on Tyndale)
1536-1541 Michelangelo paints the Last Judgement
1539-1552 Richard Taverner's (1505-1577) revisions of Matthew Bible,

mostly NT revisions since he didn't know Hebrew, 1st edition most
reliable
1539-1569 Great Bible, by Thomas Cromwell, 1st English Bible to be
authorized for public use in English churches, defective in many
places, based on last Tyndale's NT of 1534-1535, corrected by a Latin
100
version of the Hebrew OT, Latin Bible of Erasmus, and Complutensian

Polyglot, last edition 1569, never denounced by England
1542 Convocation makes an unsuccessful attempt to correct the Great

Bible against the Vulgate
1543 John Knox converted
1543 Parliament bans Tyndale's translation as a "crafty, false and

untrue
transalation", although 80% of the words were in the RV
1545-1563 Council of Trent, Catholic Reformation, or counter-

reformation, met Protestant challenge, clearly defining an official
theology
1546 King Henry VIII forbids anyone to have a copy of Tyndale's or

Coverdale's NT
1547-1553 Edward VI ruler of England
1549 Book of Common Prayer (Episcopal Church)
1549 Consensus Tigurinus brings Zwinglians and Calvinists to

agreement about communion
1550 St. Thomas More, Cranmer, and Foxe affirm the existence of
English versions of portions of the Bible, including the Gospels (11th
century), Mark, Luke, Epistles of Paul (14th century), Apocalypse (11th
century)
1553-1558 Mary I ruler of England, publications of English Scriptures

cease (except for Geneva NT of 1557), many clerics leave England
1553 Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) begins her reign . Many protestants
who flee Mary's reign are deeply impacted by exposure to a more true
reformation on the continent. John Knox is among them.
1553 Pontifical Gregorian University founded at Vatican City
1556 Beza's Latin NT

1558-1603 Elizabeth I ruler of England. Marian exiles return
101
1560 Geneva Bible, NT a revision of Matthew's version of Tyndale

with use of
Beza's NT (1556), OT a thorough revision of Great Bible, appointed to
be read in Scotland (but not England), at least 140 editions
1560 Scotch Presbyterian Church founded by John Knox (1505-
1572), due to disagreement with Lutherans over sacraments and
church government
1563 39 Articles (Episcopal Church)
1571 Superior force of Turks intent upon conquering Christian Europe
is beaten decisively by Christian sailors reportedly calling upon the
name of Our Lady of the Rosary
1572-1606 Bishop's Bible, an inadequate and unsatisfactory revision

of the Great Bible checked against the Hebrew text, 1st to be published
in England by episcopal authority
1582 Rheims NT, based on Coverdale, Bishops', Geneva, follows

Wycliffe
1590 Sistine edition of the Vulgate
1590 Michelangelo's dome in St Peter's Basilica completed
1596 Ukranian Catholic Church forms when Ukranian subjects of the
king of Poland are reunited with Rome, largest Byzantine Catholic
Church
1596 b. Moses Amyrald, founder of Amyraldianism, which is basically

Calvinism minus limited atonement. Amyraldianism became the
theology of the School of Saumer in France.
1596 b. Descartes, founder of rationalism
102
1598 Edict of Nantes grants Huguenots greater religious freedom

1603 Jacobus Arminius takes the position that predestination is
based on fore-knowledge. 1609 d. Jacobus Arminius
1603-1625 James I ruler of England, 1st to call himself

King of Great Britain, became official with Act of Union in 1707
1604 The Puritans meet James at Hampton Court. Their hopes are
dashed.
1606 Carlo Maderno redesigns St Peter's Basilica into a Latin cross
1609 Baptist Church founded by John Smyth, due to

objections to infant baptism and demands for church-state separation
1609-1610 Rheims-Douay Bible, 1st Catholic English

translation, OT published in two volumes, based on an unofficial
Louvain text corrected by Sistine Vulgate
(1590), NT is Rheims text of 1582
1610 The Arminians issue the Remonstrance

containing 5 articles
1611-1800 King James (Authorized) Version, based on

Bishop's Bible of 1572 with use of Rheims NT of 1582 - included
Apocropha, alterations found in many editions through 1800, revisors
accused of being "damnable corrupters of God's word"
103
Owen, John, 1616–83,
English Puritan divine and theologian. In the civil war Owen supported the
parliamentary cause. Oliver Cromwell took him as chaplain to Ireland and
Scotland and had him appointed (1651) dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and
vice chancellor (1652) of the university. He lost his posts after the
Restoration. He was called to the presidency of Harvard, but he declined.
Owen's writings include devotional literature and treatises against
Arminianism and Socinianism. His works were edited by Thomas Russell
(with a biography by William Orme, 28 vol., 1826) and by W. H. Goold (with a
biography by Andrew Thomson, 24 vol., 1850–55).
1618-1619 The Synod of Dort is called in the Netherlands to

answer the Arminians. The response forms 5 point Calvinism.
1620 Plymouth, Massachusetts colony founded by

Puritans
104
1625.1649 Charles I ruler of England

1628 William Laud becomes Bishop of London and steps up
oppression of the Puritans
1628 Puritan John Bunyan, born. author of Pilgrim's Progress

among many other works of poetry and prose
John Bunyan (November 30, 1628 - August 31, 1688), was the most famous
of the Puritan writers and preachers. He was born at Harrowden (1 mile south-
east of Bedford), in the Parish of Elstow, England. He is most well-know for his
book “The Pilgrim's Progress”, one of the most printed books in history, which
he composed while in prison for the crime of preaching the Gospel without a
license.
1629 Charles I dismisses Parliament

105
1630 John Winthrop and many Puritans migrate to America
1633 Authorised Version published in Scotland
1636 Harvard University founded by Puritans

1644 Long Parliament directed that only Hebrew canon only be read in
the Church of England (effectively removed the Apocropha)
11643-1646 The Westminister Assembly

1646 Cromwell defeats the King of England in Naseby. Cromwell died
in 1658.
1647 George Fox founds the Religious Society of

Friends (Quakers)
106
Fox, George, 1624–91, English religious leader, founder of the Society of

Friends, b. Fenny Drayton in Leicestershire. As a boy he was apprenticed to a
shoemaker and wool dealer. By nature serious and contemplative, Fox at the
age of 19 entered upon a wandering quest for spiritual enlightenment. In 1646
he underwent a mystical experience that convinced him that Christianity was
not an outward profession but an inner light by which Christ directly illumines
the believing soul. Revelation was for Fox not confined to the Scriptures. In
1647 he began to preach. Although often the victim of mob brutality and eight
times imprisoned between 1649 and 1675, Fox won many followers, especially
among groups of separatists. In 1668 he prepared the first pattern of
organization, which was for some years to serve as the discipline of the Society
of Friends. The London Yearly Meeting was started in 1671. To confirm his
followers in their beliefs and to spread the truths, Fox went in 1671 to the West
Indies and to America, where he made arduous journeys to various colonies
scattered between New England and North Carolina. Later he twice visited
Holland. His sincerity, serenity, fearlessness, and powerful preaching are
attested to by a number of his contemporaries
1653.1658 Oliver Cromwell ruler of England
1654 Conversion of Pascal. He started collecting notes for an Apology

for the Christian Religion. 1662 Pascal died.
1658-1712 Richard Cromwell ruler of England
1660-1685 Charles II king of England, restoration of monarchy in

England beginning under Charles II, continuing through James II,
reversed decision of Long Parliament of 1644, reinstating the
Apocrypha, reversal not heeded by non-conformists
107
1661-1663 John Eliot publishes the Bible in Algonkian, a Native

American language. Over the course of his life he also helped plant at
least 14 Native American churches
1662 New Act of Uniformity, over two thousand Puritan pastors resign
or are forced out
1675 Philip Jacob Spener's Pia Desideria helps begin the pietist
movement
Spener, Philipp Jakob 1635–1705, German theologian, founder of Pietism.

He was pastor of the Lutheran church at Frankfurt in 1670 when, to
counteract the barren intellectualism of prevailing orthodoxy, he instituted
meetings for fellowship and Bible study. These Collegia Pietatis led to a
religious revival in many German states. His book, Pia desideria (1675),
contained proposals for the reconstruction of the church. Spener became
court chaplain at Dresden in 1686, but he aroused the opposition of the
clergy and the elector and in 1691 accepted the rectorship at St. Nicholas,
Berlin. Spener aided in the founding of the Univ. of Halle in 1694, and later,
through the activities of his disciple August Hermann Francke, the city of
Halle became a center of Pietism. The orthodox Lutheran clergy had
continuously resented Spener's criticism and influence, and in 1695 the
theological faculty at Wittenberg made formal charges against him. In spite of
this opposition Spener's ideas spread to many congregations throughout
Germany and in other parts of Europe.
1675 Edict of Nantes is revoked, making Protestantism illegal again in

France. Many huguenots emigrated, some stayed and met in secret
108
1688 William and Mary take the throne. Puritans are free to preach and
establish their own churches
1685-1688 James II king of England, deposed
1689-1702 William III king of England, with Mary II as queen until 1694
1702-1714 Anne queen of England
1706 Francis Makemie founds the first Presbytery in America in

Philadelphia
1714-1727 George I king of England
1714 AV published in Ireland

1714 Catholic English version of NT by Dr. Nary, much less bulky than
Reims- Douay
1720s First Awakening. Revival breaks out as Theodore

Frelinghuysen preaches in New Jersey. Revival spreads through
Gilbert Tennant to New Brunswick..
1727-1760 George II king of England
1727 Moravian revival under Count Zinzerdorf and Hussite . Moravian

mission sent overseas.
1720's, Revival breaks out as Theodore Frelinghuysen preaches in
New Jersey. Revival spreads through Gilbert Tennant to New
Brunswick. It is the first stirrings of the First Great Awakening
1727 "The Golden Summer." A revival broke out among Count Nikolaus
Ludwig Zinzendorf and the Hussite Moravian refugees he had taken
in. Many Moravian missionaries were sent overseas
1730 Catholic English version of NT, revision of Reims NT by Dr.

Robert Witham
1734-1737 The Great Awakening continues as Jonathan Edwards

preaches in Massachusettes. Revival spreads to Connecticut
1738 Methodist Church founded by Rev John Wesley
109
1738-1816 New Catholic English versions of NT by Dr. Richard

Challoner and Francis Blyth O.D.C., Bernard MacMahon, Dr Troy
1739-41 George Whitefield joins Edwards. He travelled diligently,

travelling between England and America 13 times, and was able to
reach about 80% of the colonists with the gospel
1739 The Methodists begin as a para church society in London

1746 Princeton founded by the Presbyterians
1752 AV published in New World colonies
1754 Dartmouth founded for Native Americans
1760-1820 George III king of England
1764 Brown University founded by Baptists
1766 Rutgers founded by Dutch Reformed.
1766 Methodism was brought to the U.S. before the

American Revolution by emigrants from both Ireland and England. The
earliest societies were formed in about 1766 in New York City, in
Philadelphia, and near Pipe Creek, Maryland. In 1769 John Wesley
sent his first missionaries to America. Francis Asbury, commissioned in
1771, was the missionary most instrumental in establishing the
American Methodist church. The first annual conference was held in
Philadelphia in 1773, In a Christmas Conference held in Baltimore,
Maryland, in 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally
organized as a body separate from the English Methodist structure.
Asbury and Thomas Coke were given the title bishop and became
heads of the new church. Wesley sent Twenty-five Articles of Religion,
adapted from the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England, to
serve as its doctrinal basis.
110
1773-1775 Founded, the first black Baptist church in America, Silver

Bluff, South Carolina
1776 British colonies in America declare independance from England,

American Revolution
1783 Earthquake in Calabria, Italy kills 30,000
1784 John Wesley baptizes Thomas Coke, making Methodism a

denomination separate from the Church of England
1792 Particular Baptist Society for Propagating the Gospel among the
Heathen founded, later called the Baptist Missionary Society
1792 Charles Finney, inventor of modern revivalism born.
1795 London Missionary Society founded
1799 Church Missionary Society founded

1801-1877 Brigham Young, Mormon leader, colonized Utah
1811 Dr. Hay's revision of Challoner's version
1820-1830 George IV king of England
1822 Earthquake in Aleppo, Asia Minor kills 22,000
1815 Catholic Bible Society NT, based on Challoner's
1816-1829 Challoner's 3rd revision, Dr. John Lingard's translation from
Greek using
111
Vulgate when possible

1827 Mormon Church founded by Joseph Smith as a result of
reported visions of the Angel Moroni
Joseph Smith, Born: 23 December 1805 Birthplace: Charon,

Vermont Death: 27 June 1844 (lynched)
Best Known As: Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
Day Saints (Mormons)
Raised a Christian in Vermont and New York, Joseph Smith was the
prophet and founder of the Mormon Church. According to Smith's
account, he had a vision from God when he was fourteen years old. A
messenger directed him to a hillside in rural New York, where he
uncovered metal plates and two "seer stones," divination tools
sometimes referred to as the Urim and Thummim (terms infrequently
used in the Old Testament and whose precise meaning is clouded in
mystery). The Urim and Thummim were from a prophet, Mormon,
and revealed the record of ancient Israelites who had escaped to the
Americas around 600 B.C. Smith, using the stones, translated the
word of Mormon to form the new canon of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints (also called the Mormon Church or LDS),
founded in 1830. With his followers, Smith settled in Ohio, Missouri
and Illinois in search of the New Zion. A prophet to his followers and
a fraud to his detractors, he and his brother were killed by a mob in
Carthage, Illinois in 1844. After his death, the Church was led by
Brigham Young.
112
Brigham Young
1830-1837 William IV king of England
1830 Reported apparition of Mary in Paris, France, considered "worthy

of belief" by the Catholic Church
1832 Church of Christ (Disciples) organized, made up of Presbyterians

in distress over Protestant factionalism and decline of fervor
1837-1901 Victoria queen of England
113
1846 Reported apparition of Mary in La Salette, France, considered

"worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church
1852-1922 Charles Taze Russell, founded the Jehova's

Witnesses movement in the 1870s
Russell, Charles Taze, 1852–1916, founder of the movement whose

followers are known as Russellites, as Bible Students, and (since 1931) as
Jehovah's Witnesses, b. Pittsburgh, Pa. There he predicted (1872) the
second coming of Christ and the millennium. In 1878 he organized his
followers as an independent church. His teachings were spread through the
Watch Tower, which Russell began to publish in 1879. In 1909 he moved his
headquarters to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, New York City. Russell was
involved in scandals, which somewhat tarnished his reputation, but his sect,
nonetheless, flourished. His writings are contained in a series of books under
the title Millennial Dawn (6 vol., 1886–1904).
Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian group originating in the United States at the

end of the 19th cent., organized by Charles Taze Russell, whose doctrine
centers on the Second Coming of Christ. The Witnesses believe that the event
has already commenced; they also believe the battle of Armageddon is
imminent and that it will be followed by a millennial period when repentant
sinners will have a second chance for salvation. The Witnesses base their
teaching on the Bible. They have no churches but meet in buildings that are
always named Kingdom Hall. There are no official ministers because all
Jehovah's Witnesses are considered ministers of the gospel. Their views are
circulated in the Watchtower, Awake!, and other publications and by house-to-
house canvasing carried on by members. Regarding governments as the
work of Satan, the Witnesses refuse to bear arms in war or participate in the
affairs of government. Their refusal to salute the flag brought about a
114
controversy that resulted in a decision in their favor by the U.S. Supreme Court
in 1943. The Witnesses insist upon a rigid moral code and refuse blood
transfusions. Before 1931, Jehovah's Witnesses were called Russellites;
abroad the movement is usually known as the International Bible Students
Association. Active in almost every country in the world, the group has more
than 1 million members in the United States.
1. There is one God in one person, Make Sure of All Things, p 188.
2. There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All
Things, p.386.
3. The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 406-407.
4. The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, The Watchtower,
June 1, 1952, p. 24.
5. Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son'. . . was used
by Jehovah in creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding,
pp. 390-391.
6. Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The
Watchtower, May 15,1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
7. Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from
the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 306.
8. Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July
22, 1973, p. 4.
9. Jesus was raised "not a human creature, but a spirit." Let God be
True, p. 276.
10. Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake, Reasoning from the
Scriptures, 1985, pp. 89-90.
11. Jesus returned to earth, invisibly, in 1914, The Truth Shall Make
You Free, p. 300.
12. Jesus' ransom sacrifice did not include Adam, Let God be True, p.
119.
13. Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God, The
Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p. 197.
14. They claim to be the only channel of God's truth, The Watchtower,
Feb. 15, 1981, p. 19.
15. Only their church members will be saved, The Watchtower, Feb,
15, 1979, p. 30.
16. Good works are necessary for salvation, Studies in the Scriptures,
Vol. 1, pp. 150, 152.
17. The soul ceases to exist after death, Let God be True, p. 59, 60,
67.
115
18. There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished, Let God be
True, p. 79, 80.
19. Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven, Reasoning from
the Scriptures,1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.
20. Only the 144,000 Jehovah's Witness are born again. Reasoning
from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 76.; Watchtower 11/15/54, p. 681.
21. Only the 144,000 may take communion,
22. Blood transfusions are a sin, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985,
pp. 72-73.
23. The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used, Reasoning
from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92.
24. Salvation is by faith and what you do, Studies in the Scriptures,
Vol. 1, pp.150,152.
25. It is possible to lose your salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp.358-359.
26. Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years
long. Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years
of earth's preparation, Let God be True, p. 168.
27. They also refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the "Star Spangled
Banner," or celebrate Christmas or birthdays. They are not allowed
to serve in the armed forces.
28. Satan was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty
of overseeing the creation of the earth, Children, p 55
1858 Reported apparition of Mary in Lourdes, France, considered

1859-1959 90 Catholic NT editions, 56 Catholic editions of the whole
Bible
1869-1870 First Vatican Council, 20th ecumenical, affirms doctrine of
papal infallibility (ie. when a pope speaks ex cathedra on faith or morals
he does so with the supreme apostolic authority, which no Catholic may
question or reject)
1871 Reported apparition of Mary in Pontmain, France, considered
1878 14-point creed of the Niagara Bible Conference, used by
Fundamentalists
1879 Reported apparition of Mary in Knock, Ireland, considered
1881-1894 Revised Version, called for by Church of England, used
Greek based on Septuagint (B) and (S), Massoretic text used in OT,
116
follows Greek order of words, greater accuracy than AV, includes

Apocrypha, scholarship never disputed
1889: Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910 ) Founded the

Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts .
After a sudden recovery from a serious injury in 1866, Mary Baker Eddy
began to formulate the ideas that would lead her to form the Church of
Christ, Scientist. Beginning in the 1870s she wrote extensively, publishing
Science and Health in 1875. In 1889 she chartered the Church of Christ,
Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts. The beliefs of the Christian Scientists (as
they came to be called) include healing by faith, an affirmation that suffering
is not God-created, but rather a mode of human perception. Their
publication isThe Christian Science Monitor.
1898-1904 Twentieth Century NT, changed order of books to

chronological
117
1901-1910 Edward VII king of England
1901 American Standard Version, recension of the RV, included

words/phrases preferred by Americans, follows Greek order of words
1901 Pentecostal Church formed in Topeka, Kansas in reaction to

loss of evangelical fervor among Methodists and other
denominations
1902 Richard Weymouth NT, a careful literary translation.
118
119
1906 Azusa Steet Revival, a major catalyst to the

Pentecostan and Charismatic Churches.
1907 United Methodist Free Churches united to form
the United Methodist Church,
11910-1936 George V king of England
1910 5-point statement of the Presbyterian General Assembly, also

used by Fundamentalists
1910-1915 The Fundamentals, a 12-volume collection of essays by 64

British and American scholars and preachers, a foundation of
Fundamentalism
1913-1924 James Moffat Bible, 1st one man translation in

almost 400 years
1917 Reported apparition of Mary in Fatima, Portugal, "miracle of the

sun" witnessed by between 70,000 and 100,000 people, considered
1919 World's Christian Fundamentals Association founded
1925 Scopes Trial, caused division among Fundamentalists
1932 Reported apparition of Mary in Beauraing, Belgium, considered

1933 Reported apparition of Mary in Banneux, Belgium, considered

1934 Conversion of Billy Graham
1936 Edward VIII king of England, acceeded and abdicated

1936-1952 George VI king of England
1936 Westminster NT, unofficial Catholic version (not commissioned

by the
Hierarchy)
1945-1955 Knox Version, from Vulgate, asked for by English

Hierarchy
120
1946-1952 Revised Standard Version, revision of AV "based on

consonantal Hebrew text" for OT and best available texts for NT, done
in response to changes in English usage
11948 August 23, World Council of Churches 1formed

with Christian congregations all over the world as a fellowship.
1(Except Roman Catholics) 1The WCC was constituted at the first
general assembly (Amsterdam) on 23 August 1948. It became the most
visible international expression of varied streams of ecumenical life in
the 20th century. In 1920, the Ecuemnical Patriarchate of
Constantinople became the first church to appeal publicly for a
permanent organ of fellowship and co-operation of "all the churches" -
a "League of Churches" (Koinonia ton Ekklesion). Also calling for the
same in the 1920s were church leaders such as Archbishop Nathan
Söderblom (Sweden), a founder of L&W (1925), and J.H. Oldham (UK),
a founder of the IMC (1921).
Two of these streams - Life and Work (L&W) and Faith and Order
(F&O) - merged at the first assembly.
WCC member churches today include nearly all the world's Orthodox
1churches. scores of denominations from such historic traditions of the
Protestant reformation 1as Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed
and 1Anglican Communion, and a broad representation of united and
independent churches.
Six Presidents of WCC

121
1948 World Council of Churches – Amsterdam Assembly
11949 Basic English Bible, only 1000 words, simple and direct style
1949 Discovery of Qumran (Essenes ) scrolls, aka Dead Sea scrolls

(see 68)
1952-Present Elizabeth II queen of England
1954 World Council of Churches – Evanston Assembly.
1957 United Church of Christ founded by ecumenical union of

Congregationalists and Evangelical & Reformed, representing
Calvinists and Lutherans
1958 J. B. Phillip's NT, uses only commonly spoken language
1959 Statement of Faith (United Church of Christ)
1961 World Council of Churches – New Delhi Assembly

International Missionary Council (IMC) - was integrated with the WCC
1961 New English Bible, renders original Basic English Bible for
private use
1962-1965 Second Vatican Council, 21st ecumenical, announced by

Pope John XXIII in 1959, produced 16 documents which became
official after approval by the Pope, purpose to renew "ourselves and the
flocks committed to us" (Pope John XXIII)
1966 RSV Catholic Edition, a joint effort between Catholics and the
Church of
England, a big step towards a common Catholic/Protestant Bible
1966 Jerusalem Bible, translation from original languages based on

Bible de Jerusalem, Catholic version
1968 World Council of Churches- Upsala Assembly.
1970 Confraternity Version, new Catholic translation from the originals

which began before 1939 as a translation from the Vulgate, but ending
up as a new translation from the Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT).
122
1971 New American Standard Bible, updated the ASV using recent
Hebrew and Greek textual discoveries
1975 World Council of Churches – Nairobi Assembly, Kenya
1978 New International Version, used eclectic Greek text, Massoretic

Hebrew text, and current English style
1978- Pope John Paul II, reaffirmed conservative moral traditions (The
Splendor of Truth) and the forbidding of women in the priesthood
1979-1982 New King James Bible, complete revision of 1611 AV,

updates archaisms while retaining style
1981- Reported apparitions of Mary in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, not yet

approved/disapproved by the Catholic Church
1983 World Council of Churches – Vancover Assembly, Canada
1991 World Council of Churches – Canberra Assembly, Australia
11994 Declaration of cooperation between Evangelicals and

Catholics.
1998 World Council of Churches – Harare Assembly
Appendix 4
123
List of Popes and Anti-Popes

St. Linus (67-76) St. Damasus I (366-83)
St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88) St. Siricius (384-99)
St. Clement I (88-97) St. Anastasius I (399-401)
St. Evaristus (97-105) St. Innocent I (401-17)
St. Alexander I (105-115) St. Zosimus (417-18)
St. Sixtus I (115-125) -- also called St. Boniface I (418-22)
Xystus I St. Celestine I (422-32)
St. Telesphorus (125-136) St. Sixtus III (432-40)
St. Hyginus (136-140) St. Leo I (the Great) (440-61)
St. Pius I (140-155) St. Hilarius (461-68)
St. Anicetus (155-166) St. Simplicius (468-83)
St. Soter (166-175) St. Felix III (II) (483-92)
St. Eleutherius (175-189) St. Gelasius I (492-96)
St. Victor I (189-199) Anastasius II (496-98)
St. Zephyrinus (199-217) St. Symmachus (498-514)
St. Callistus I (217-22) St. Hormisdas (514-23)
St. Urban I (222-30) St. John I (523-26)
St. Pontain (230-35) St. Felix IV (III) (526-30)
St. Anterus (235-36) Boniface II (530-32)
St. Fabian (236-50) John II (533-35)
St. Cornelius (251-53) St. Agapetus I (535-36) -- also
St. Lucius I (253-54) called Agapitus I
St. Stephen I (254-257) St. Silverius (536-37)
St. Sixtus II (257-258) Vigilius (537-55)
St. Dionysius (260-268) Pelagius I (556-61)
St. Felix I (269-274) John III (561-74)
St. Eutychian (275-283) Benedict I (575-79)
St. Caius (283-296) -- also called Pelagius II (579-90)
Gaius St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-
St. Marcellinus (296-304) 604)
St. Marcellus I (308-309) Sabinian (604-606)
St. Eusebius (309 or 310) Boniface III (607)
St. Miltiades (311-14) St. Boniface IV (608-15)
St. Sylvester I (314-35) St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-
St. Marcus (336) 18)
St. Julius I (337-52) Boniface V (619-25)
Liberius (352-66) Honorius I (625-38)
Severinus (640)
John IV (640-42)
Theodore I (642-49) Romanus (897)
St. Martin I (649-55) Theodore II (897)
St. Eugene I (655-57) John IX (898-900)
124
St. Vitalian (657-72) Benedict IV (900-03)

Adeodatus (II) (672-76) Leo V (903)
Donus (676-78) Sergius III (904-11)
St. Agatho (678-81) Anastasius III (911-13)
St. Leo II (682-83) Lando (913-14)
St. Benedict II (684-85) John X (914-28)
John V (685-86) Leo VI (928)
Conon (686-87) Stephen VIII (929-31)
St. Sergius I (687-701) John XI (931-35)
John VI (701-05) Leo VII (936-39)
John VII (705-07) Stephen IX (939-42)
Sisinnius (708) Marinus II (942-46)
Constantine (708-15) Agapetus II (946-55)
St. Gregory II (715-31) John XII (955-63)
St. Gregory III (731-41) Leo VIII (963-64)
St. Zachary (741-52) Benedict V (964)
Stephen II (752) John XIII (965-72)
Stephen III (752-57) Benedict VI (973-74)
St. Paul I (757-67) Benedict VII (974-83)
Stephen IV (767-72) John XIV (983-84)
Adrian I (772-95) John XV (985-96)
St. Leo III (795-816) Gregory V (996-99)
Stephen V (816-17) Sylvester II (999-1003)
St. Paschal I (817-24) John XVII (1003)
Eugene II (824-27) John XVIII (1003-09)
Valentine (827) Sergius IV (1009-12)
Gregory IV (827-44) Benedict VIII (1012-24)
Sergius II (844-47) John XIX (1024-32)
St. Leo IV (847-55) Benedict IX (1032-45)
Benedict III (855-58) Sylvester III (1045)
St. Nicholas I (the Great) (858-67) Benedict IX (1045)
Adrian II (867-72) Gregory VI (1045-46)
John VIII (872-82) Clement II (1046-47)
Marinus I (882-84) Benedict IX (1047-48)
St. Adrian III (884-85) Damasus II (1048)
Stephen VI (885-91) St. Leo IX (1049-54)
Formosus (891-96) Victor II (1055-57)
Boniface VI (896) Stephen X (1057-58)
Stephen VII (896-97) Nicholas II (1058-61)
Alexander II (1061-73) John XXII (1316-34)

St. Gregory VII (1073-85) Benedict XII (1334-42)
125
Blessed Victor III (1086-87) Clement VI (1342-52)

Blessed Urban II (1088-99) Innocent VI (1352-62)
Paschal II (1099-1118) Blessed Urban V (1362-70)
Gelasius II (1118-19) Gregory XI (1370-78)
Callistus II (1119-24) Urban VI (1378-89)
Honorius II (1124-30) Boniface IX (1389-1404)
Innocent II (1130-43) Innocent VII (1406-06)
Celestine II (1143-44) Gregory XII (1406-15)
Lucius II (1144-45) Martin V (1417-31)
Blessed Eugene III (1145-53) Eugene IV (1431-47)
Anastasius IV (1153-54) Nicholas V (1447-55)
Adrian IV (1154-59) Callistus III (1455-58)
Alexander III (1159-81) Pius II (1458-64)
Lucius III (1181-85) Paul II (1464-71)
Urban III (1185-87) Sixtus IV (1471-84)
Gregory VIII (1187) Innocent VIII (1484-92)
Clement III (1187-91) Alexander VI (1492-1503)
Celestine III (1191-98) Pius III (1503)
Innocent III (1198-1216) Julius II (1503-13)
Honorius III (1216-27) Leo X (1513-21)
Gregory IX (1227-41) Adrian VI (1522-23)
Celestine IV (1241) Clement VII (1523-34)
Innocent IV (1243-54) Paul III (1534-49)
Alexander IV (1254-61) Julius III (1550-55)
Urban IV (1261-64) Marcellus II (1555)
Clement IV (1265-68) Paul IV (1555-59)
Blessed Gregory X (1271-76) Pius IV (1559-65)
Blessed Innocent V (1276) St. Pius V (1566-72)
Adrian V (1276) Gregory XIII (1572-85)
John XXI (1276-77) Sixtus V (1585-90)
Nicholas III (1277-80) Urban VII (1590)
Martin IV (1281-85) Gregory XIV (1590-91)
Honorius IV (1285-87) Innocent IX (1591)
Nicholas IV (1288-92) Clement VIII (1592-1605)
St. Celestine V (1294) Leo XI (1605)
Boniface VIII (1294-1303) Paul V (1605-21)
Blessed Benedict XI (1303-04) Gregory XV (1621-23)
Clement V (1305-14)
Urban VIII (1623-44) Pius VII (1800-23)

Innocent X (1644-55) Leo XII (1823-29)
Alexander VII (1655-67) Pius VIII (1829-30)
Clement IX (1667-69) Gregory XVI (1831-46)
Clement X (1670-76) Blessed Pius IX (1846-78)
126
Blessed Innocent XI (1676-89) Leo XIII (1878-1903)

Alexander VIII (1689-91) St. Pius X (1903-14)
Innocent XII (1691-1700) Benedict XV (1914-22)
Clement XI (1700-21) Pius XI (1922-39)
Innocent XIII (1721-24) Pius XII (1939-58)
Benedict XIII (1724-30) Blessed John XXIII (1958-63)
Clement XII (1730-40) Paul VI (1963-78)
Benedict XIV (1740-58) John Paul I (1978)
Clement XIII (1758-69) John Paul II (1978—)
Clement XIV (1769-74)
Pius VI (1775-99)
List of Anti-Popes
217-235 St. Hippolytus. One of the Fathers of the Church and the
only anti-pope to be venerated as a saint. Elected "Pope" in
opposition to St. Callistus I (r. 217-222) whom he accused of
being a Monarchian heretic. Continued the schism in opposition
to Urban I (r. 222-230) and St. Pontian (r. 230-235). The Imperial
gov't, during the persecution of Emp. Maximin Thrax, exiled both
Hippolytus and Pontian to Sardinia, where they were reconciled.
Apparently, to end the schism they both abdicated.
251-258 Novatian. Consecrated bishop in opposition to St. Cornelius (r.

251-253). The major point in dispute (besides disappointed ambition on
Novatian's part) was his opposition to the policy St. Cornelius pursued
as regarded those Christians who lapsed during the persecution of
Emperor Decius. The Pope insisted on restoring the "lapsi" to
communion after doing suitable penance. Novatian demanded
permanent excommunication from the Church.
309 Heraclius
355-365 Felix II
366-367 Ursinus
418-419 Eulalius
498-505 Laurentius
687 Theodore
687 Paschal
767-769 Constantine
768 Philip
844 John
127
855 Anastasius the Librarian. One of the more interesting anti-popes. A

scholar learned in both Greek and Latin. After the death of St. Leo IV in
855, Anastasius, with Frankish support, tried to make himself Pope in
rivalry to the lawful Pope Benedict III (r. 855-858). The violent hostility
of the Romans thwarted him. Anastasius was treated leniently by
Benedict and rehabilitated by Nicholas I (r. 858-867), whom he served
faithfully.
903-904 Christopher
984-985 Boniface VII. One of the more disgusting anti-popes. Actually,

twice anti-pope. In 974, supported by the Roman clan of the Crescentii,
Boniface was "elected" Pope. He soon had the lawful Pope Benedict VI
(r. 973-974) murdered. The outraged Romans expelled Boniface, who
fled to the Eastern Roman Empire. In 980, while Benedict VII (r. 974-
983) was absent, the usurper briefly seized Rome. Again expelled. In
984, with Byzantine support, Boniface again seized Rome, had John
XIV (r. 983-984) murdered, and installed himself as "pope" until he died
in 985.
997-998 John XVI

1012 Gregory
1045 Sylvester III. Scholars debate over whether or not he was truly an
anti-pope.
1058-1059 Benedict X
1061-1072 Honorius II
1084-1100 Clement III
1100 Theodoric
1102 Albert
1105-1111 Sylvester IV
1118-1121 Gregory VIII
1124 Celestine II
1130-1138 Anacletus II
1138 Victor IV
1159-1164 Victor IV. The anti-popes of the years 1159-1180 were the
creatures of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I during his long
quarrel with Pope Alexander III (r. 1159-1181).
1164-1168 Paschal III

1168-1178 Callistus III
1179-1180 Innocent III
128
1328-1330 Nicholas V. Set up as anti-pope by the Holy Roman

Emperor Louis IV during the latter's quarrel with Pope John XXII (r.
1316-1334).
1378-1394 Clement VII. The "election" of this anti-pope in opposition to

the lawful Pope Urban VI (r. 1378-1389) precipitated the Western
Schism of 1378-1415.
1394-1423 Benedict XIII

1049-1410 Alexander V
1410-1415 John XXIII
1423-1429 Clement VIII
1425-1430 Benedict XIV
1439-1449 Felix V. After "deposing" Eugene IV (r. 1431-1447) in 1439,

the schismatic Council of Basle "elected" as "Pope" Amadeus VIII,
Duke of Savoy (r. 1391-1440. Largely because the "council" desired as
Pope a man of piety, wealth, and international standing. Amadeus
accepted "election" only with hesitation and was soon disillusioned. In
1449, with Charles VII of France acting as mediator, Felix V submitted
to the lawful Pope Nicholas V. Appointed cardinal bishop of St. Sabina,
he died in 1451.
129
Appendix 5
Evangelists of Open Door Period
John Wycliffe (A.D. 1328-1384)

John Huss (A.D. 1369-1415)
Thomas A Kempis (A. D. 1380-1471)
Girolamo Savonarola (A.D. 1452-1498)
Desiderius Erasmus (A.D. 1466-1536)
William Tyndale (A.D. 1494-1536)
Martin Luther (A.D. 1483-1546)
Philip Melanchthon (A.D. 1497-1560)
John Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564)
Ulrich Zwingli (A.D. 1484-1531)
John Knox (A.D. 1513-1572)
Conrad Grebel (A.D. 1498-1526)
Menno Simons (A.D. 1496-1561)
Thomas Cranmer (A.D. 1489-1556)
Hugh Latimer (A.D. 1485-1555)
Miles Coverdale (A.D. 1488-1568)
Jacobus Arminius (A.D. 1560-1609)
Thomas Cartwright (A.D. 1535-1603)
Robert Browne (A.D. 1550-1633)
Oliver Cromwell (A.D. 1599-1658)
John Owen (A.D. 1616-1683)
John Bunyan (A. D. 1628-1688)
Ignatius Loyola (A.D. 1491-1556)
Jean Daille (A.D. 1594-1670)
Francis Xavier (A.D. 1506-1552)
Jon Amos Comenius (A.D. 1592-1670)
Johann Arndt (A.D. 1555-1621)
Madame Guyon (A.D. 1648-1717)
Philip Jacob Spener (A.D. 1635-1703)
August Hermann Francke (A.D. 1663-1727)
Johannes Albrecht Bengel (A.D. 1687-1752)
Count von Zinzendorf (A.D. 1700-1760)
William Law (A.D. 1686-1761)
John Wesley (A. D. 1703-1791)
George Whitefield (A. D. 1714-1770)
George Fox (A.D. 1642-1691)
Roger Williams (A.D. 1603-1683)
Jonathan Edwards (A.D. 1703-1758)
Francis Asbury (A.D. 1745-1816)
David Brainerd (A.D. 1718-1747)
130
John Nelson Darby (A.D. 1800-1882)

George Muller (A.D. 1805-1898)
Andrew Murray (A.D. 1828-1917)
Charles Finney (A.D. 1792-1875)
Charles Spurgeon (A.D. 1834-1892)
Dwight L. Moody (A.D. 1837-1899)
John Henry Newman (A.D. 1801-1890)
William Carey (A.D. 1761-1834)
David Livingstone (A.D. 1813-1873)
Hudson Taylor (A.D. 1832-1905)
Karl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968)
Watchman Nee (A.D. 1903-1972)
Billy Graham (A.D. 1918 - )
131
APPENDIX 6
ON SOME MOVEMENTS and SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
New Order of Latter Rain Movement

"Latter Rain" was originally a name used for what happened at Azusa
Street. Eventually, the Order began to claim that the power to transmit
spiritual gifts had been given by the Spirit to certain authorized human
beings, who thus became a new apostolic lineage.
William Joseph Seymore
1907-1910 David Wesley Myland teaches rudimentary concepts

regarding the Latter Rain
about forty years of dormancy
1947 - William Branham/Hawtin/Hunt begin to teach New Order of the

Latter Rain codify teachings into doctrines
132
another forty years of dormancy
1985-on Latter Rain teachings brought to the forefront by various

prophets and apostles such as prophet Hammond, prophet Paul Cain,
Rick Joyner, John Wimber, Apostle Turnel Nelson, Apostle Jefferson
Edwards, Dr. Noel Woodroffe, Prophet Mike Bickle.
Salvation-Healing Movement
William Branham
This refers to the work of William Branham, who had been given what
by most accounts was a spectacular personal ministry of healing, and
the work of several successors, such as Gordon Lindsay and Oral
Roberts.
When they were successful they saw themselves to be great, thus

taking the real attention off of Christ and onto themselves, their
healings, and their empires. Branham held that those who were
baptized under the name of the Trinity had to be rebaptized into Jesus'
name alone. He saw himself as the angel mentioned in Revelation
3:14. He believed that, in God's power, a spiritual elite (who held to the
teachings Branham) would come to rule..
Shepherding Movement 1970s

Led by Bob Mumford, Ern Baxter, Don Basham, Derek Prince, and
Charles Simpson. Became a cult which controlled minds and actions of
its members. The Fort Lauderdale 5 had officially broken up by 1986
133
Bob Mumford Derek Prince
The Word of Faith Movement
Kenneth Copeland, Ken Hagin, Ulf Ekman, and others are from this
movement, which is a cross-breed of Pentecostalism with the New
Thought movement that gave birth to Unity School and Christian
Science. Their spiritual forefather was E.W. Kenyon. Their approach to
prayer and to repentance puts the burden of actual fulfillment onto the
person and not God. Pray with confident power, they say. Ask, and you
will get, if you ask without any doubt.
Kenneth Copeland Kenneth Hagin
They have a special teaching on what they called rhema : when a

believer says something with a totally confident faith, it will happen; if it
does not happen, well, that's proof of the presence of sinful doubt. It's
based on the idea that there's a difference between the Greek words
for 'word', logos and rhema . To them, logos is God's written word,
rhema is God's spoken word. Then, the claim is made that our words
can share in the same force as God's words that created the world (Gn
1). We can name it, and then claim it as ours.
Some even went as far as to say that man will evolve into God..
"Manifest Sons of God" and Dominion Theology
134
Modern Dominion believers envision a future where the "manifest sons

of God" (sometimes known as 'Joel's Army'), a spiritually-empowered
elite, will be armed with supernatural power for the purpose of wresting
control of the world from the hands of Satan's slaves.
The Manifested Sons heresy appears in many forms, and under many
names, including: the Manchild Company, the Sonship, the
Melchisedek Priesthood, the Shulamites, Joel Company, Elijah
Company, the Many-membered Christ, the New Order, Overcomers,
God's Army, the Corporate Body, Feast of Tabernacles, Tabernacle of
David, etc., etc.
135
MAJOR CHURCH COUNCILS

Twenty-one official Ecumenical Councils have been held. They are
listed and briefly described as follows, with the inclusion of some
additional Synods and Councils that have historical importance:
Council at Jerusalem (Ecuminical Council)(not counted in

the 21 Councils) 48 AD
About Judaisers. Saints James, Peter, Paul, and Barnabas were
involved. Described in the Acts of the Apostles [15:6-29]. Led by Saint
James ("the brother of the Lord"), bishop of Jerusalem. Determined that
Gentile converts did not have to embrace Judaism to be Christians.
Council at Carthage local Council, 251 AD

About the lapsed. Novatianism was defended by Navatius, condemned
by Saint Cyprian. Set requirements for readmission to Church of those
who had lapsed during persecutions. Declared baptisms by heretics
were worthless (no "baptisms" outside the Church). Required baptism
for entry into the Church by those "baptised" by heretics (outside the
Church). Forbade re-baptism of those who had received Church
baptism, then fallen into heresy who sought readmission.
252 AD. Reduced requirements for readmission of lapsed who showed

serious penance. Repeated decisions regarding baptism of previous
year.
255 AD. Repeated decisions regarding baptism of 251 and 252.

Determined that clerics falling into heresy should be received back into
the Church as laymen.
256 AD. Rejected decisions by Pope Stephen regarding "baptism"

outside the Church. Re-affirmed previous decisions regarding baptism.
256 AD. Repeated decisions made earlier in year, rejecting Pope

Stephen's teaching. Declared there were no sacraments outside the
Church.
Council at Elvira local Council, never accepted by Orthodox 300-306

AD
136
Imposed celibacy on clergy. Established canon forbidding converts

from heresy to ever become clergy.
Council at Ancyra local Council, 314 AD

About the lapsed. First synod following the end of persecutions.
Condemned as liars, those who publicly proclaimed adherence to the
national religion (paganism) in order to receive an official document that
allowed them to avoid persecution. Established punishments for these
lapsed. Also established punishments for various types of sexual
immorality.
Council at Neo-Caesaria local Council, c. 315 AD

Established punishments for various types of sexual immorality.
Established qualifications for clergy.
First Ecuminical Council at Nicaea - (Imperial) Council,

325 AD
The First Council of Nicaea (began on either May 20 or June 19, 325
and met until about Aug. 25, 325), the first ecumenical council,
Convened regarding Arianism, Paulianism, defended by Arius,
condemned by Saint Athanasius The Nicean Creed was accepted as
standard of faith.
Synod at Gangra local Council, 340 AD

The synod of Gangra dealt with a local sectarian group.
1. The group condemned marriage altogether.
2. They also condemned eating meat,
3. They refused to be obedient to lawful authorities
4. They encouraged women to dress as men (clothes and haircuts),
5. They encouraged parents to abandon their children (to go live the
'pure' life) and children to abandon their parents (for the same reason).
This group was condemned.
6. The synod also condemned fasting on Sundays
Council at Antioch local Council, 341 AD

Established regulations regarding clergy, the organisation of the local
churches, church discipline, and use of canonical letters (used by
travelling Christians as proof of being Christians in good standing).
Council at Sardica 347 AD

137
Established canons concerning church order and discipline. Reaffirmed

the Symbol of Faith from Nicaea I.
Council at Laodicaea local Council, 364 AD

Established canons concerning church order and discipline.
Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople

(Imperial) Council, 381 AD
Convened regarding Macedonianism, Apollinarians, Eunomians,
Eudoxians, Sabellians, Marcellians, Photinians.
Macedonius defended the issues, and Saint Gregory the Theologian

(aka St Gregory of Nazianzus) and Saint Gregory of Nyssa were
champions of Orthodoxy.
1. Condemned
a. Arianism. Jesus was simply a man anointed by God
b Macedonianism which denied divinity of the Holy Spirit.
c. Eunomians (an extreme form of Arianism),
d. the Eudoxians (semi-Arians),
e. the Sabellians who taught the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were
three modes of manifestation of the one God, denying the distinction of
Three Persons,
f. the Marcellians who taught the Logos was an impersonal divine
power that issued
g. Apollinarianism which taught the Lord Jesus Christ possessed the
divine Logos in place of a human mind and was therefore fully divine,
but not fully human.
h. Photinians who taught that Jesus was a mere man upon whom the
Logos rested.
2. Defined the Holy Trinity as one God in Three Persons, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit each fully God of the same essence.
3. Expanded Statement of Faith from Nicaea I into what is now known
as 'Nicene Creed' (actually the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.)
and the
4. Ranked relative importance of the five patriarchates with Old Rome
first and New Rome (Constantinople) second.
5. Established regulations for church discipline, including standing
during prayer on Sundays and the days of Pentecost. Established
manner in which heretics were to be received into the Church.
6. Determined formula for determining Pascha (Easter). 7.
Condemned mandatory celibacy for all ranks of clergy. 4. Established
regulations on moral issues and church discipline.
138
8. Required Paulianists to be baptised upon entry to Church, even if

baptised by Paulianists.
Council in Constantinople local Council, 394 AD

Established various regulations, including the requirement of at least
three bishops to ordain a bishop.
Council at Carthage local Council, 419-424 AD

Convened regarding Pelagianism and Donatism, which were defended
by Pelagius, Celestius, and Donatus. Orthodoxy was championed by
Bishop Aurelius.
Established regulations for clergy, including excommunication for
clerics lower than bishop who appealed decisions outside of Africa
(specifically mentioning 'across the sea', i.e. the pope of Rome). Denied
jurisdiction of pope of Rome in African church. Enumerated canon of
Scripture (OT & NT). Set requirements for Donatists received into the
Church, including prohibition of rebaptising those baptised as
Donatists.
Established canon requiring baptism where proof of previous baptism
was not available. Condemned beliefs of Pelagians: that Adam was
created mortal, that infants need not be baptised because they are not
subject to the consequences of Adam's sin, that grace is not needed to
avoid sin, and that grace only enables us to recognise sin but does not
assist us in avoiding sin.
Third Ecuminical Council of Ephesus (#3) June 22 to

July 17, 431 AD
It was convened in order to respond to the teachings of Nestorius that
Mary be considered only the "mother of Christ" and not the "mother of
God"
Established that the rights of each province should be preserved and
inviolate (i.e. bishops from one province have no rights over other
provinces).
Council at Constantinople local, 448 AD

Convened regarding Eutychianism (Monophysitism), which was
defended by Eutyches and condemned by Saint Flavian. Eutyches,
who rejects the 'union'; of 'two natures' in 'one person' is condemned.
139
Council at Ephesus Heretical (known historically as

'Robber Council' 449 AD
Chaired by Dioscorus who refused to allow Flavian to speak in his own
defence, refuses to hear Saint Leo of Rome's Tome of Leo (his
response to reports of the Synod of 448).. It approved the doctrines of
Eutyches, which were subsequently condemned at the Council of
Chalcedon.
Fourth Ecuminical Council of Chalcedon (Imperial) (#4)

Oct. 8 to Nov. 1, 451 AD
Convened regarding Eutychianism (Monophysitism), which was
defended by Eutyches and Dioscorus, and condemned by Saint Leo
(the Great) of Rome. Annulled and invalidated 'Robber Council' of 449
in Ephesus
Council of Orange (not counted – not accepted by the

Eastern Churches) 529 AD
Convened regarding Pelagianism. Condemned various beliefs of
Pelagianism: Augustine's teaching of election and predestination was
generally upheld by the church, but the further idea that some are
predestined to condemnation was explicitly rejected
Fifth Ecuminical Second Council at Constantinople

(#5) May 5 to June 2, 553 AD
Convened regarding Monophysitism (Nestorianism) and Origenism.
Nestorius, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Eutyches, and Origen defended
these issues, which were condemned by Emperor (Saint) Justinian (the
Great)
1. Condemned the person and writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia,
who had been Nestorius' teacher and declared the Logos to be a
different God than the one called Christ and who taught the Lord Jesus
Christ was troubled by desires of human flesh and passions of the
human soul.
2. Condemned writings of Thedoret of Cyrus which rejected Saint Cyril
of Alexandria's Christology
3. . Condemned Ibas of Edessa's letter to Maris the Persian for its
Nestorian tone.
4. Condemned writings of Diodorus of Tarsus as Nestorian.
5. Condemned Origen, Didymus, and Evagrius for teaching the pre-
existence of souls, re-incarnation, the ultimate salvation of demons,
that heavenly bodies possessed souls, and other errors.
140
Third Council of Toledo (not counted - heretical, local

Council) 589 AD
Filioque clause was accepted. This Controversy eventually led to
the Great Schism that divided Christianity into Roman Catholic and
Orthodox.
Sixth Ecuminical Third Council at Constantinople (#6)

Nov. 7, 680 to Sept. 16,681 AD
condemned Monothelitism and it condemned an earlier pope,
Honorius I, for supporting that heresy. This Council is also called
Trullanum. Convened regarding Monothelitism, representing Sergius,
Pyrrhus, Paul, Peter, Pope Honorius, and Cyrus.
Condemned Monothelitism (a belief that the Lord Jesus Christ had only
one will and one energy). Condemned as Monothelite heretics Sergius,
Pyrrhus, Paul, and Peter (Patriarchs of Constantinople); Pope
Honorius; Patriarch Cyrus of Alexandria, and others.
Affirmed that the Lord Jesus Christ, though but one person, after His
incarnation possessed two natural wills and two natural energies, just
as He possessed two natures
Council in Trullo (Constantinople) –

Conclusion of Sixth Council (aka 'Quinsext' to indicate it was a
summation of Fifth & Sixth Councils., 692 AD
This Council was held in Constantinople (in Trullo, literally, 'under the
dome') It was convened due to the lack of canons from Fifth and Sixth
Ecumenical Councils, Called by Emperor to promulgate canons
necessary
.-Prohibited ordination of man married more than once or married to

previously married woman;
- deposition of any clergy discovered to be guilty of same or marrying
after ordination (although approving marriage before ordination to
diaconate or priesthood and ordering that deacons or priests who
separated from his wife to be deposed).
- Declared the patriarch of New Rome (Constantinople) should have

equal privileges as the patriarch of Old Rome.
- Established monastic regulations.
- Enacted canon permitting only the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified
- Enacted canons regarding fasting (prohibition of fasting on
Saturdays or Sundays, except Holy Saturday; prohibition of eggs and
cheese).
141
- Enacted canon mandating excommunication for one week for laymen

administering the Divine Mysteries when a bishop, priest, or deacon
present.
- Condemned soothsaying, fortune-telling, casting of spells,
superstition, etc.
- Prohibited marriage to heretics.
- Made assisting in abortion or having abortion equivalent to murder.
- Established procedures for accepting heretics into the Church.
'Robber' Council of Constantinople (Orthodox) 754

Iconoclast Emperor Leo III and his son, the Iconoclast Emperor
Constantine V, a council was called to 'determine' if images were
proper. The patriarchates of Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem
refused to participate. The bishops who were compelled to attend,
accepted the heresy of Iconoclasm under pressure from the emperor.
This false council anathematised Saint John of Damascus and Saint
Germanus of Constantinople for idolatry of images.
Seventh Ecuminical Second Council of Nicaea (#7) 787

AD
Upon the death of the Iconoclast Emperor Leo IV (son of Constantine
V, grandson of Leo III) and the beginning of the regency of Empress
Irene, the reign of Iconoclasm came to an end.
- This council annulled the council of 754 and condemned Iconoclasm.
Affirmed veneration (but not adoration, which was for God alone) of
images. Germanus and John of Damascus proclaimed saints
The Great Schism Starts here:

Note: The above seven great councils are regarded as ecumenical
by both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The
Orthodox Church even identifies itself as the 'Church of the Seven
Councils'.
Photius (not counted by either Catholic or Orthodox) 867

AD
In 867, Photius summoned a council that deposed Pope Nicholas. .
Council in Frankfurt local Council, 794 AD (considered

heretical by roman and orthodox)
Opposed decisions of Nicaea II, denying it had been an ecumenical
council. Pope Hadrian condemned for supporting Nicaea II. The
142
worship of images, under the terms worship, adoration, and service of

any kind, was forbidden. Destruction of images was also opposed,
inasmuch as the synod did not condemn depictions as decorations or
tools for instructing the illiterate, only the worship or adoration of
depictions.
Council in Aachen , local Council, 809 AD (considered

heretical by roman and orthodox)
Decreed that belief in the Filioque was necessary for salvation.

Established regulations for monasticism, including requiring local
bishop's permission to build monastery. Condemned castration.
Established regulations for clergy.

Rome and Constantinople fights over to jurisdiction in Bulgaria.
Triggered by Pope Nicholas, who in 865 for the first time put forward
the claim that the Pope had authority 'over all the earth, that is, over
every Church.' This council, convened by Saint Photius and including
archbishops of Treves, Cologne and Ravenna from the West,
excommunicated and anathematised Pope Nicolas
Council in Constantinople
considered a heretical Council by the Orthodox Church, 869-870 AD
Only 12 bishops attended at first, and attendance never exceeded 103.
The result of these councils was to intensify the bitterness between
East and West. Not regarded as 'Ecumenical' by Roman Catholicism
until 11th or 12th century, it has never been accepted by Orthodoxy.
Roman Catholic: Fourth Council at Constantinople (#8)

Oct. 5, 869 to Feb. 28, 870 AD considered a heretical Council by
the Orthodox Church.The principal action was to depose Photius, the
patriarch of Constantinople, for usurping his ecclesiastical position. This
Council was only first called Ecumenical about two hundred years
afterwards. Later, Photius was restored to his see, and he held another
council in 879-80. That later council, not that of 869, is considered
ecumenical by the Orthodox church.
Orthodox Church: Photius (not counted by Catholic, but

#8 by Orthodox) Nov. 879 to Mar. 13, 880 AD
143
In 879-80 a great council, presided over by Photius, confirmed the

original form of the Nicene creed, and normal relations between
Rome and Constantinople were restored. Accepted by all five
patriarchates, including Pope John VIII The Orthodox Church called
this the Council of Union.
Orthodox Church: Council in Constantinople local Council,

1082 AD
Convened regarding John Italus. Condemned those who seek to
discover exactly how the Word was joined to His human
substance; Greek doctrines of the soul, heaven, earth, and
creation; the destruction of the soul after death; those who say
that creation is eternal or immutable; those who do not accept the
miracles of Christ, the Theotokos, and all his saints; those who
think Greek philosophy true; that creation is not the result of
God's free will; the pre-existence of souls; those who deny that
creation is created ex nihilo; those who say that hell is temporary
or that all of creation will be restored; and those who understand
the Kingdom of Heaven to be temporary.
Roman Catholic: Council of Clermont 1095

Pope Urban II preached for and launched the First Crusade.
Orthodox Church: Synod of Blachernae, in Constantinople

local Synod, 1157 AD
Convened regarding Basilakes and Soterichus. Condemned those who
say Christ offered His sacrifice to the Father alone, and not to himself
and to the Holy Spirit; those who say the sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy
is only figuratively the sacrifice of Christ's body and blood; those who
deny that the sacrifice in the Liturgy is one and the same as that of
Christ on the cross; those who say men were reconciled to the Son
through the incarnation and to the Father through the passion; those
who think the deification of Christ's humanity destroyed his human
nature; those who deny that his deified human nature is worthy of
worship; those who say that, since the human nature of Christ was
swallowed up into Divinity, his passion was an illusion; those who say
that characteristics of Christ's human nature (creaturehood,
circumscription, mortality, and blameless passions) exist only
hypothetically, when one considers Christ's human nature in
abstraction, and not really and truly.
144
Orthodox Church: Council in Constantinople local Council,

1166 AD
Convened regarding Constantine the Bulgarian. Condemned those who
maintain that 'My father is greater than I' refers only to Christ's human nature,
taken in abstraction and who explain the statement in various ways, one of
which is that the statement refers to the fact that Christ's human nature retained
its properties in the hypostatic union.
Second Council of Lyons Failed 'reunion Council', 1274 AD

Motivated by a desire of popes to gain recognition of primacy and by a
desire of emperors to receive material and martial aide. Emperor
Michael basically compelled the few Orthodox bishops in attendance to
rubber-stamp papal claims. Rejected throughout the East and regarded
it as meaningless. Emperor Michael's sister stated: 'Better my brother's
empire should perish than the purity of the Orthodox faith.' Repudiated
by Michael's successor.
Orthodox Church: Council at Constantinople local Council,

1285 AD
Convened regarding the Procession of the Holy Spirit. Clarified the
teaching on the Holy Spirit's origin.
Roman Catholic: The First Lateran Council

The First Lateran Council was called to ratify the Concordat of Worms
(1122), which formally ended the lengthy Investiture controversy.
Second Lateran Council (#10) April, 1139

The Second Lateran Council was convoked to reaffirm the unity of the
church after the schism (1130-38) of the antipope Anacletus II (d.
1138). It also condemned the teachings of Arnold of Brescia.
Synod of Blachernae, in Constantinople local Synod, 1157 AD

Convened regarding Basilakes and Soterichus. - - -
- Condemned
- those who say Christ offered His sacrifice to the Father alone, and
not to himself and to the Holy Spirit;
- those who say the sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy is only figuratively
the sacrifice of Christ's body and blood;
- those who deny that the sacrifice in the Liturgy is one and the same
as that of Christ on the cross;
145
- those who say men were reconciled to the Son through the
incarnation and to the Father through the passion;
- those who think the deification of Christ's humanity destroyed his
human nature;
- those who deny that his deified human nature is worthy of worship;
- those who say that, since the human nature of Christ was swallowed
up into Divinity,
- his passion was an illusion;
- those who say that characteristics of Christ's human nature
(creaturehood, circumscription, mortality, and blameless passions) exist
only hypothetically, when one considers Christ's human nature in
abstraction, and not really and truly.

Convened regarding Constantine the Bulgarian. –
- Condemned those who maintain that 'My father is greater than
I' refers only to Christ's human nature, taken in abstraction and
who explain the statement in various ways, one of which is that
the statement refers to the fact that Christ's human nature retained
its properties in the hypostatic union.
Third Lateran Council (#11) Mar. 5 to 19, 1179

The Third Lateran Council ended the schism (1159-77) of the antipope
Callistus III and his predecessors. It also limited papal electors to
members of the College of Cardinals.
Fourth Lateran Council (#12) Nov. 11 to 30, 1215

This council sanctioned a definition of the Eucharist in which the
word transubstantiation was used officially for the first time. The
council also attempted to organize a new crusade to the Holy Land and
to encourage crusading efforts against the Albigenses and Waldenses.
Many precepts still binding on Roman Catholics (such as the
Easter duty, or obligation, of annual confession and Holy
Communion) were adopted at this council.
First Council of Lyons (#13) June 28 to July 17,

1245
Confirmed the deposition of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.
Second Council of Lyons (#14) May 7 to July 17, 1274
146
A new crusade was organized, and regulations regarding the papal

election were approved. An effort at reconciling the Catholic and
Orthodox Churches failed.
Council of Vienne (#15) Oct. 16, 1311 to May 6, 1312

Abolished the Order of Templars, and passed some Church reforms.
Council in the Orthodox Church 1341

Doctrinal definition of Grace.
Council in the Orthodox Church 1351

Doctrinal definition of Grace.
Council of Constance (#16) Nov 5, 1414 to Apr. 22, 1418

Throughout the Middle Ages, even Western or Roman Catholics
themselves debated the convoking and authority of councils. Although
all the bishops and theologians agreed that the pope should have
special prerogatives, for several centuries reformers claimed that when
protesters had grievances, they could appeal from the pope to a
council. Out of these reformist parties came a theory of
Conciliarism, the idea that a council is ultimately above the pope.
The Great Schism in 1378 brought this debate to a head, since there
were then two and later three popes. The Council of Constance (1414-
18) settled the division.
Council of Basel (#17a) July, 1431 to May 4, 1437

Established that the Council had higher authority than the Pope, but
conciliar power was again limited when the pope declared the Council
of Basel heretical.
Council of Ferrara-Florence (#17b) Sept 17, 1437 to

January 1939 (Ferrara); January 1439 to Apr. 25, 1442 (Florence);
Apr. 25, 1442 to 1445 (Rome)
The Council of Ferrara-Florence was convened for the primary purpose
of ending the schism between that church and the Eastern Orthodox
Church.
Fifth Lateran Council (#18) May 3, 1512 to Mar. 16, 1517

The Fifth Lateran Council was convoked for the purpose of reform, but
the main causes of the Reformation were left untouched. Its most
significant decree was a condemnation of Conciliarism.
147
Three Western Ecumenical Councils have been held

since the Reformation.
Council of Trent (#19) Dec. 13, 1545 to 1563

The Council of Trent met over a period of 18 years to deal with the
Protestant revolt; it was decisively anti-Protestant in its decrees. Trent
saw the authority of the church partly in Scripture and partly in
tradition and its bishops rejected the teaching of Protestants that
humans are justified only by Grace through faith. Dogmatic
decisions were passed regarding original sin and justification, the
seven Sacraments, and the Mass, and the cult of the saints.
First Vatical Council (#20) Dec. 8, 1869 to Oct. 20, 1870

The First Vatican Council, convened at Rome in 1869-70, not only
continued the attempts to define Roman Catholicism against the rest of
ecumenical Christendom, but decreed that--in matters of faith and
morals when he speaks officially and with clear intention to do so--the
pope is infallible.
Second Vatican Council (#21) Oct. 11, 1962 to Dec. 8,

1965
The Second Vatican Council (1962-65), which also met in Rome,
showed a different outlook. First, it invited observers from Orthodox and
Protestant churches; second, the bishops did vote for a principle of
collegiality, which gave higher status to their participation. Collegiality,
however, did not effectively limit the supremacy of the pope.
148

The Time Line of Christian History

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Time Line of Christian History

1The Time Line

In this system, then, 1 A.D. corresponds to the year of the world

Dionysus made 2 mistakes:

The Alexandrian era attributed to the fifth century monk Panodorus,

5199 In the Anno Mundi chronological system attributed to Eusebius

4004 BC The year of the creation according to Bishop Ussher (1581-

According to my own calculation based on Scripture alone the

First year in Christian calendar, (A.D. = Anno Domini). In an attempt

BC 6: Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus of Rome; Samaria, Judea

"When I had extinguished the flames of civil war, after receiving by

Coin of Herod Archelaus

Coin of Herod Antipas

Coin of Philip son of Herod

7 BC 21 Tishri 3755 = 14 Oct 7 BC Zachariah’s Vision – Day of

6 BC: Publius Sulpicius Quirinius (c.45 BCE - 21 CE): Roman

Birth of Jesus 25 December, 6 BC

6-15: Ananus ben Seth: High Priest of Jerusalem Temple, appointed

6: Zealot's tax revolt: Judah of Gamala & Saddok the Pharisee

Judah of Gamala was a Nazir Israelite King-Priest (a direct descendant of the

30 BC - Hillel the Elder from Babylonia.- contemperory of Jesus.

42BC-37AD: Tiberius: Roman emperor.

59BC-17AD: Livy, (Titus Livius)

18-36: Joseph Caiaphas: High Priest of Jerusalem Temple,

A Sadducee, son-in-law of Annas. According to the Gospels, he presided at the

Ossuary of Caiaphas found in 1990

19: Tiberius expels Septuagint missionaries from Rome,

202BC-220AD: Han dynasty in China

63 BC-24AD: Strabo, Greek geographer, historian, and philosopher

Reconstruction of what Jesus may have looked like

An ancient Roman depiction of Jesus

26-36: Pontius Pilate: Roman Prefect of Iudaea

Pontius Pilate , Roman prefect of Judaea (A.D. 26–36 ). He was supposedly

Pontius Pilate, (26-37 AD)

27-30 : Jesus baptized in Jordan by John the Baptist, [Mk1:4-11]

10BC- : Marcus Manilius, Roman poet,

50 BC-30AD: Shammai the Elder, founder of Bet Shammai Torah

AD 30 –100 THE PERIOD OF SOWING –APOSTOLIC AGE

28-30 : John the Baptist arrested/killed by Herod Antipas

27-30 : Jesus' ministry, foundation years of Christianity,

30 : Jesus crucified, Friday, Nisan 14th, March 30th,

New Covenant Era Starts

36 Agrippa I (36 - 37) in Rome.

30 -65 : period of oral tradition in Christianity Between Jesus and the

1) (Simon) Peter as leader

1Judas the betrayer commits "suicide" [Ac1:18-19],

Peter’s Pentecost Sermon - 3000 new converts in one day

Ananias and Sapphira die under mysterious circumstances after

7 Greeks added to 12 Apostles:

CHURCH AGE STARTS

Paul, the world's first missionary, missionary to the Gentiles

"...a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well-built, with eyebrows

1Activity of Christianity shifts from the Hellenic-Jewish-Christians

37-41: Gaius Caligula: b.12, Emperor of Rome, declared himself

37-40: Herod Agrippa I: king of tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias

38: anti-Jewish riots in Alexandria [Philo: Flaccus 41-54, E-

39-40: anti-Jewish riots in Antioch [Malalas Chronographia

39: Herod Antipas exiled to Gaul on charges of secret alliance with

40: Paul goes to Jerusalem to get aquainted (consult ) with Peter